1. First Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav
Tags: Festivals
Recently, the first Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav was organized at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, Bhubaneswar, in a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Culture, the Odisha Government, and KIIT University.
An overview of the news
The event brought together 5,000 tribal athletes and 1,000 officials from 26 states, showcasing the diversity and richness of indigenous sports in India.
By organizing such events and supporting the promotion of indigenous sports, the government aims to preserve and revive these traditional games, ensuring their continued relevance and encouraging the younger generation to participate and excel in them.
About Indigenous Sports
The promotion and development of indigenous sports primarily lie with the respective State/Union Territory Governments, as 'Sports' is a state subject.
However, the Union Government supports their efforts through initiatives such as the 'Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports' Scheme.
This scheme includes a specific component dedicated to the development and promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games across the country.
It provided an opportunity for athletes from different states to come together, compete, and exchange their experiences, thereby promoting cultural exchange and unity.
Under this scheme, certain indigenous games have been identified for promotion, such as Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana, and Silambam.
2. 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a ‘God Bharai' ceremony in Rajasthan
Tags: State News
According to Jaskaur Meena, MP from Dausa, Rajasthan, people in Dausa, Rajasthan celebrate 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a ‘God Bharai' (Baby Shower) ceremony.
An Overview of the News:
- In this ceremony all the pregnant women of the area come together and they are provided with 'nutritional kits' for the health of their babies.
- According to MP Jaskaur Meena, about 3.5 lakh women have benefited from this scheme during 2022-23 only in Rajasthan.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated the new initiative of celebrating 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' as a 'baby shower' ceremony in Dausa, Rajasthan.
- This unique initiative of Dausa will give new energy to 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana'. This initiative will ensure the health security of not only the mothers but also the babies.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY):
- PMMVY was launched on January 1, 2017 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- This scheme, run by the Union Ministry of Child Development, was done for the welfare of pregnant and lactating women across the country.
- Under this, cash benefits are provided to pregnant women directly into their bank accounts to meet increased nutritional requirements and partially compensate for wage loss.
- All pregnant women and lactating mothers who are in regular employment under the Central Government or State Governments or Public Undertakings or who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law.
- Under this, five thousand rupees are given to all the eligible beneficiaries in three installments and the remaining amount of one thousand rupees is given after institutional delivery as per the conditions of maternity benefit under Janani Suraksha Yojana.
- Thus on an average a woman is given Rs.6000.
Rajasthan:
- Capital: Jaipur
- Governor: Kalraj Mishra
- Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
- Number of seats in the Legislative Assembly: 200
- Number of seats in Lok Sabha: 25
- Number of seats in Rajya Sabha: 10
3. US court approved extradition of 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India
Tags: International News
A US court has approved the extradition of26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Pakistani-origin Canadian Tahawwur Rana to India.
An overview of the news
California District Court Judge Jacqueline Chooljian has approved the Indian government's request for Rana's extradition.
Rana was arrested in the US on an extradition request by India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed over 160 people, including six Americans.
India has charged Rana with offenses including conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, waging war, murder and forgery.
Rana was convicted in Chicago in 2011 of providing material support to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which planned the Mumbai terror attacks.
India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing his role in the 26/11 attacks carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in 2008.
What is Extradition?
Extradition is the formal process of surrendering a person from one state to another.
The purpose of this process is the prosecution or punishment for offences committed by a person within the jurisdiction of the requesting country.
The extradition of a fugitive criminal to India is regulated under the Indian Extradition Act, 1962.
The Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division, Ministry of External Affairs is the central/nodal authority to administer the Extradition Act.
Extradition process can be initiated in case of under-investigation, under-trial and convicted criminals.
4. JP Nadda launches book 'Modi: Shaping a Global order in flux'
Tags: Books and Authors
BJP national president J P Nadda on 22 February launched a book "Modi: Shaping a Global Order in Flux" in Chanakyapuri, Delhi.
An overview of the news
In this book, an attempt has been made to tell how PM Modi has taken such decisions which have changed the image of India around the world.
It is important to understand what was the image of India before Modiji came to power.
The book has been forwarded by Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The editors are Sujan Chinoy, Vijay Chauthaiwala and Uttam Kumar Sinha.
5. MEA's annual flagship event Asia Economic Dialogue begins in Pune
Tags: National National News
External Affairs Ministry’s annual flagship event on Geoeconomics, Asia Economic Dialogue began on 23 February in Pune, Maharashtra.
An overview of the news
It is being hosted in association with the Pune International Center from February 23-25.
The main theme of the dialogue is 'Asia and the Emerging World Order'.
The dialogue will also discuss topics such as Global Growth Prospects, How the Global South Will Shape the G20 Agenda and the Metaverse.
The inaugural session began with talks between External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, H.E. Leonpo Namgye Tshering, Minister of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan and H.E. Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Finance of Maldives.
More than 44 speakers from different countries including Brazil, USA, UK, South Africa, Bhutan, Maldives, Switzerland, Singapore and Mexico are participating in this dialogue.
Asia Economic Dialogue (AED)
The Asia Economic Dialogue (AED) is the External Affairs ministry's annual event and is hosted in collaboration with the Pune International Centre.
It is the flagship geo-economics conference.
The dialogue focuses on the dynamics of trade and finance in Asia and its neighbouring countries.
6. Sansad Ratna award, 2023
Tags: Awards
-01_snsFmqN.png)
names for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2023 were released on 21 February.
An overview of the news
A total of thirteen Members of Parliament and two Parliamentary Committees have been honoured with this award.
The Jury Committee of eminent Parliamentarians and civil society, chaired by Arjun Ram Meghwal (State Minister of Parliamentary Affairs) and Co-Chaired by T S Krishnamurthy (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India) has nominated eight MPs from Lok Sabha and five from Rajya Sabha for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2023.
Prominent CPI-M leader T K Rangarajan nominated for the lifetime achievement award.
These nominations are based on cumulative performance in questions, private members' bills and members' debates from the beginning of the 17th Lok Sabha till the end of the Winter Session 2022.
Sansad Ratna Awards 2023 from Lok Sabha
Bidyut Baran Mahato (BJP, Jharkhand),
Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (BJP, West Bengal),
Kuldeep Rai Sharma (INC, Andaman Nicobar Islands),
Dr Heena Vijayakumar Gavit (BJP, Maharashtra),
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (INC, West Bengal),
Gopal Chinayya Shetty (BJP, Maharashtra),
Sudhir Gupta (BJP, Madhya Pradesh) and
Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe (NCP, Maharashtra)
Sansad Ratna Awards 2023 from Rajya Sabha
Dr. John Brittas (CPI-M, Kerala),
Dr. Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD, Bihar),
Smt Fauzia Tahseen Ahmed Khan (NCP, Maharashtra) Vishambhar Prasad Nishad (Samajwadi Party, UP) and
Smt Chhaya Verma (INC, Chhattisgarh)
Two Parliamentary Committees of Lok Sabha nominated for Sansad Ratna Award 2023
Lok Sabha's Parliamentary Committee on Finance, chaired by Jayant Sinha
Rajya Sabha's Standing Committee on Tourism, Transport, and Culture, chaired by Vijay Sai Reddy
Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Lifetime Achievement Award - T K Rangarajan, (Former Rajya Sabha MP for two terms and a Senior CPIM Leader).
About Sansad Ratna Award
Sansad Ratna Awards were instituted on the suggestion of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to honour top performing Parliamentarians.
He himself inaugurated the first edition of the award ceremony in 2010 in Chennai.
So far, 90 top performing parliamentarians have been honoured and all of them have received the award individually.
The 13th edition of the award ceremony will be held on 25 March 2023 in New Delhi.
K. Srinivasan is the Founder Chairman of the Sansad Ratna Award Committee and Ms. Priyadarshini Rahul is the Chairman.
7. BAFTA Awards for 2023 announced
Tags: Awards
The 76th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA (the British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards, were announced at an event held in London’s Royal Festival Hall on 19 February.
An overview of the news
A German anti-war drama ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, a screen adaptation of the 1928 novel by Erich Maria Remarque, won the most, including Best Picture and Best Director, with seven.
‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ and ‘Elvis’ both movies won four BAFTA awards.
BAFTA 2023 Winners List
Best film
“All Quiet on the Western Front” -WINNER
“The Banshees of Inisherin”
“Everything Everywhere All At Once”
“Elvis”
“‘TÁR”
Outstanding British film
“Aftersun”
“The Banshees of Inisherin” -WINNER
“Brian and Charles”
“Empire of Light”
“Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”
“Living”
“Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical”
“See How They Run”
“The Swimmers”
“The Wonder”
Best documentary
“All That Breathes”
“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed”
“Fire of Love”
“Moonage Daydream”
“Navalny” *WINNER
Best animated film
“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” *WINNER
“Marcel the Shell with Shoes On”
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
“Turning Red”
Best lead actress
Ana de Armas, “Blonde”
Cate Blanchett, “TÁR” *WINNER
Viola Davis, “The Woman King”
Danielle Deadwyler, “Till”
Emma Thompson, “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”
Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Best lead actor
Austin Butler, “Elvis” *WINNER
Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”
Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Daryl McCormack, “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”
Paul Mescal, “Aftersun”
Bill Nighy, “Living”
8. Saurashtra beat Bengal by 9 wickets to bag second Ranji Trophy title
Tags: Sports Sports News
Saurashtra won the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 title by defeating Bengal by 9 wickets in the final match played on February 19, thanks to the superb bowling of team captain and left arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat.
An overview of the news
Saurashtra won their second Ranji Trophy title at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Saurashtra won the Ranji Trophy title for the first time in 2019-20.
Saurashtra needed 14 runs to win, which they achieved at the loss of 1 wicket in 2.4 overs.
This is the second title win of the Saurashtra team in the last three seasons.
Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya, who were the heroes of Saurashtra's victory, together broke the back of Bengal's batting, and the team could only manage 241 runs in the second innings.
Unadkat took 9 wickets, while Chetan Sakaria took 6 wickets.
Saurashtra won the toss in the match and decided to bowl first.
Bengal could score only 174 runs in the first innings while batting.
Unadkat took three wickets while Chetan Sakaria also took three wickets. Chirag Jani and DA Jadeja got two wickets each.
Saurashtra then took a huge lead over Bengal by scoring 404 runs in the first innings.
The second innings was also poor for Bengal and the team could only manage 241 runs. In such a situation, he could get a slight lead of 11 runs over Saurashtra.
Saurashtra captain Unadkat was adjudged man of the match for his nine-wicket haul in the match, while teammate Arpit Vasavada was adjudged player of the Ranji season.
Brief Scores
Bengal - 174 and 241 in 70.4 overs (Manoj Tiwary 68, Anustup Majumdar 61; Jaydev Unadkat 6/85, Chetan Sakariya 3/76).
Saurashtra - 404 and 14/1 in 2.4 overs.
Ranji Trophy Tournament
The Ranji Trophy tournament has been played since 1934.
The first match was played between Madras and Mysore at the Chepauk Ground from 4 November 1934.
Mumbai has won this tournament 41 times.
For the first time in 86 years, the 2020/21 season Ranji Trophy had to be cancelled due to Corona.
Ranji Trophy is named after Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Number of teams- 37
Most runs - Wasim Jaffer (10665)
Most wickets - Rajinder Goyal (640)
9. Ben Stokes breaks world record for smashing most sixes in Test cricket history
Tags: Sports Sports News
England Test captain Ben Stokes on 18 February became the player to hit the most number of sixes in the history of Test cricket, surpassing England coach and former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum in the match against New Zealand.
An overview of the news
Stokes holds the world record for hitting two sixes in the second innings of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Mount Maunganui (New Zealand).
Stokes played an innings of 31 runs in 33 balls, which included three fours and two sixes.
Wicket-keeper Tom Blundell stumped him off the bowling of all-rounder Michael Bracewell.
In 90 Test matches, Stokes scored a total of 5,652 runs at an average of 36.00 with 109 sixes and 12 centuries and 28 fifties.
His individual best score in Tests is 258.
McCullum has 107 sixes in 101 Tests. He scored 6,453 runs at an average of 38.64. He has 12 centuries and 31 fifties in Tests with a best score of 302.
Batsman who hit most sixes in test cricket
Australia's Adam Gilchrist is third after Stokes (109) and McCullum (107) to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.
Chris Gayle of West Indies is fourth in the list with 98 sixes and Jacques Kallis of South Africa is fifth with 97 sixes.
India's Virender Sehwag is in sixth place, he has hit 91 sixes. Sehwag is the Indian to hit the most sixes in Tests.
10. Qatar lifts ban on frozen seafood from India
Tags: International News
Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) has said that Qatar partially lifted a ban imposed last year on the import of frozen seafood from India on 18 February.
An overview of the news
The ban will continue on exports of chilled seafood, which accounts for about a third of the West Asian country's total seafood exports in 2021-22 with the worth of Rs 143 crore.
Frozen seafood is stored at minus 20 degrees, while chilled seafood is stored at 3-4 degrees Celsius.
In the current financial year, India's seafood exports to the West Asian country stood at around Rs 90 crore, with prawns taking the number one spot.
China has also lifted the suspension of shipments from 99 Indian seafood processing and export units.
Now seafood exports are expected to cross USD 8 billion in the current fiscal.
Why was the ban imposed?
This ban was imposed in November 2022.
Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that causes cholera infection, was reportedly detected in consignments exported from India to Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup. After this these food products were banned.
