Title Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 24th February 2021

Title
Daily Current Affairs Capsule
            Title 2021
     24th February

21-year-old Jasmine Harrison from UK becomes youngest woman to row solo across Atlantic Ocean

A British woman, Jasmine Harrison of England has become the youngest woman to row solo across an Ocean.

      The 21-year-old from Thirsk, North Yorkshire in UK, achieved the feat by finishing top in the 2020
       Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, organized by Atlantic Campaigns.
      Harrison, who is a swim instructor and bartender by profession, traveled 3,000 miles (4,828km) across
       the Atlantic Ocean in 70 days, 3 hours and 48 minutes.
      Harrison began her journey in Spain’s Canary Islands on December 12, 2020 and arrived in Antigua on
       February 20, 2021.

Central Excise Day: 24 February

Central Excise Day is celebrated every year on February 24 in India.

   The aim of this day is to encourage the employees of the excise department in carrying out the central
       excise duty in a better way.
      The Central Excise Day is also celebrated to commemorate the Central Excise and Salt Act, which was
       enacted on February 24, 1944.
      The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs is the nodal national agency responsible for
       administering Customs, GST, Central Excise, Service Tax & Narcotics in India.
      Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar, IRS

PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Second Edition of ‘Maritime India Summit’ in March 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the virtual Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021, from March 2 to
4, 2021.

      The ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’ is the flagship initiative of the Union Ministry of State for Ports,
       Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India.
      FICCI is the industry partner for the summit.
      The theme of the event is “Exploring the potential business opportunities in Indian Maritime sector and
       making Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
      Around one lakh delegates and 40 partner countries are expected to participate in the event.

UPSC adds Leh as exam centre for Civil Services candidates from Ladakh

In a first of its kind the Union Public Service Commission UPSC has opened a new centre for the Civil Services
Examination, in Leh for the candidates from Union Territory Ladakh. Preliminary exam will be held on the 27th
of June this year.

      Sanctioning of a new centre for Civil Services examination in Leh is a great relief for the aspiring
       candidates.

   Leh will be the 73rd centre in the country to hold the preliminary exam for Civil Services on 27th of June
       this year.
      At least 800 candidates are expected to attend the civils preliminary exam from the Union Territory
       Ladakh.
      UPSC Chairperson: Pradeep Kumar Joshi
      Founded: 1 October 1926

NDA government's flagship programme PM KISAN completes two years

The second anniversary of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM KISAN was observed on 24 February 2021.

      The Scheme was formally launched in the year 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a function at
       Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
      PM KISAN was started with a view to augment the income of the farmers by providing income support
       to all landholding farmers’ families across the country.
      Under the PM KISAN Scheme, an amount of 6000 rupees per year is transferred in three installments of
       2000 rupees directly into the bank accounts of the farmers.
      The Scheme initially provided income support to all Small and Marginal Farmers’ families across the
       country, holding cultivable land upto 2 hectares.

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurates the world's largest stadium at Motera in Ahmedabad

President Ram Nath Kovind formally inaugurated the world's largest Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cricket Stadium
at Motera in Ahmedabad Gujarat.

      The President Kovind is expected to watch the third cricket test match between India and England for
       some time with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah soon after the inauguration ceremony.

   Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium at Motera in Ahmedabad is all set to make history by hosting the day-night
       pink ball test match between India and England.
      The newly built world’s largest Motera Cricket Stadium is equipped with all modern technologies and
       facilities necessary for present day cricket.

Govt. and AIIB sign loan agreement for USD 304 million Assam Intra-State Transmission System
Enhancement Project

Union Government and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed a loan agreement for a 304
million dollar Assam Intra-State Transmission System Enhancement Project to improve reliability, capacity and
security of the power transmission network in the State of Assam.

      The project aims to strengthen Assam’s electricity transmission system by constructing 10 transmission
       substations and laying transmission lines, upgrading 15 existing substations and providing technical
       assistance to support project implementation.
      The programme would strengthen the existing intrastate transmission network of Assam by augmenting
       it with newer networks to achieve affordable, secure, efficient and reliable round the clock power.
      The total estimated cost of the project is USD 365 million of which USD 304 million will be financed by
       the AIIB.

DGCA gives necessary clearance to Kushinagar Airport

Aviation Regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given necessary clearance to Kushinagar
Airport.

      Kushinagar will be the third licensed international airport of Uttar Pradesh.
      Kushinagar Airport will help boost tourism in the region and facilitate travel on Buddhist circuits.

   Kushinagar is the city where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana.

Centre, Nagaland govt sign 68 USD project with World Bank to improve Quality of Education

The Centre along with the Nagaland State government has signed a 68 million dollar project with the World Bank
in order to Improve the Quality of Education in Nagaland.

      The project named “Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources” will improve classroom
       instruction; create opportunities for the professional development of teachers; and build technology
       systems to provide students and teachers with more access to blended and online learning.
      The project will also allow better monitoring of policies and programs.
      About 1 lakh 50 thousand students and 20 thousand teachers in the government education system will
       benefit from the statewide reforms in schools.

Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti takes over as Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet

Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti, VSM took over the Command of the Eastern Fleet, the Sword Arm of the Eastern
Naval Command at Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam.

      He has taken over the Command from Rear Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, AVSM, NM.
      Rear Admiral Tarun Sobti was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 July 1988 and is a specialist in
       Navigation and Direction.
      The Eastern Fleet is a Naval fleet of the Indian Navy.
      It is known as the 'Sword Arm' of the Eastern Naval Command.
      It is headquartered at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on the east coast of India.