1. First-ever Women's Premier League begin in Navi Mumbai
Tags: Sports Sports News
The Women's Premier League (WPL 2023) with five teams begins on 4 March 2023 in Navi Mumbai.
An overview of the news
After years of waiting and planning, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has launched a T20 franchise-based cricket league for women on the lines of the popular Indian Premier League.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur has been named as the MI skipper while opener Smriti Mandhana will captain the RCB women's team.
Australia's successful skipper Meg Lanning will captain Delhi Capitals, while Beth Mooney has been named as the skipper of Gujarat Giants.
Australian wicket keeper and batsman Alyssa Healy is leading the UP Warriors in WPL 2023.
First match between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Giants was played at DY Patil Stadium Navi Mumbai 4 March.
The tournament final will be played at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, on the 26 March.
Five teams taking part in the inaugural edition of WPL
Mumbai Indians (MI),
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB),
Delhi Capitals (DC),
UP Warriorz (UPW)
Gujarat Giants (GG)
2. 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.
3. Sansad Ratna award, 2023
Tags: Awards
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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.
4. Cabinet approves the extension of the term of the Twenty-second Law Commission of India
Tags: committee National National News
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The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the tenure of the 22nd Law Commission of India which has been extended till August 31, 2024.
22nd Law Commission
The Union ministry of Law and Justice constituted the 22nd Law Commission on 7 November 2022 and appointed former Karnataka High court chief justice Rituraj Awasthi as the chairperson of the Law Commission.
The five member 22nd Law Commission will have a term of three years.
Justice BS Chauhan was the chairman of the 21st Law Commission whose term expired in August 2018.
Other members
Former Kerala High Court judge Justice KT Sankaran, Prof. Anand Paliwal, Prof. DP Verma, Prof.(Dr) Raka Arya and M Karunanithi have been appointed members of the Law Commission.
Law Commission of India
Law commission is a non-statutory body which is set up by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice for suggesting reform in laws in India.
Its recommendations are not binding on the government.
The provision for the Law commission was made in the Charter act 1833 and the first Law commission was set up in 1834 under the chairmanship of Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay.
The Indian Penal Code 1860 is based on the recommendation of the Macaulay commission.
The First Law commission in Independent India was set up in 1955 and M.C Setalvad who was also the first Attorney General of India was the chairman of the Law Commission.
5. Nitin Gadkari lays Foundation Stone of the world's largest and unique Divyang Park
Tags: National National News
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on 20 February laid the Foundation Stone of the world's largest and unique Divyang Park - Anubhuti Inclusive Park in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
An overview of the news
This park is being developed keeping in mind the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build an inclusive society.
Instead of sympathy, this park will show empathy, hence this park has been named Anubhuti Divyang Park.
In 2016, the central government passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act for the rights of persons with disabilities.
This law gives the disabled the right to live with dignity.
About Anubhuti Inclusive Park
This park is being built for disabled children and common citizens in Pardi campus of Nagpur.
Its purpose is to give the message of inclusion in the country and the whole world.
It is the world's first inclusive disabled park.
Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
The park will have adapted facilities for all 21 types of disabilities, including touch and smell gardens, hydrotherapy units, water therapy, independent rooms for mentally challenged children, etc.
6. Khajuraho Dance Festival begin in Madhya Pradesh
Tags: Festivals State News
The 49th Khajuraho Dance Festival began on February 20 in Khajuraho.
An overview of the news
Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel inaugurated 'Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023'. The festival will end on February 26.
Madhya Pradesh State Rupankar Art Award will be given at the function and an exhibition of artefacts has also been organised at the venue.
Under the Department of Culture, this festival is being organised with the joint efforts of Ustad Alladin Khan Academy of Music and Arts, Department of Tourism, Archaeological Survey of India, World Dance Alliance and Chhatarpur District Administration.
The first meeting of the Culture Working Group under the chairmanship of India in G-20 is also being held in Khajuraho from 23 to 25 February.
Other festivals of Madhya Pradesh
Lokrang Festival, Bhopal
Akhil Bhartiya Kalidas Samaroh, Ujjain
Bhagoria Haat Festival, West Nimar (Khargon) and Jhabua
Ujjain Kumbh Mela, Ujjain
Malwa Utsav, Indore & Ujjain
Chethiyagiri Vihara Festival, Sanchi
Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, Gwalior
7. 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.
8. Khalistan Tiger Force and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force declared as terrorist organisations
Tags: National National News
The central government on 17 February declared Khalistan Tiger Force, and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force as terrorist organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
An overview of the news
Apart from this, Punjab resident Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda, the mastermind of the 2021 attack on the intelligence headquarters of Punjab Police, has been declared a terrorist.
The government has so far designated 54 individuals as terrorists and 44 organisations as terrorist organisations.
Khalistan Tiger Force
It came into existence in 2011 as an offshoot of terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International.
It is a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
It is a militant organization whose aim is to revive militancy in Punjab.
This organisation is promoting various acts of terrorism including targeted killings in Punjab.
Its agenda is the formation of a separate state of Khalistan.
Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF)
It has been formed with cadres of terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
It has been found involved in infiltration attempts, smuggling of narcotics and arms and carrying out terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
It draws its cadres from Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami and various banned terrorist organisations.
Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda
He hails from Lahore and is associated with the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a terrorist-designated group.
He is accused of masterminding the attack on the intelligence headquarters of the Punjab Police in 2021.
He has direct links with Pakistan-based terrorist groups and is also involved in large-scale smuggling of drugs, arms, ammunition and militant hardware.
He has been involved in various crimes like murder, attempt to murder, contract killing, dacoity and extortion in Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
He is the 54th person to be declared a terrorist by the government.
9. AICTE and BPRD Jointly Launch KAVACH-2023
Tags: National National News
A national level hackathon KAVACH-2023 was launched on 16 February to identify innovative ideas and technological solutions to address India's 21st century cyber security and cybercrime challenges.
An overview of the news
KAVACH-2023 is a one-of-a-kind national hackathon jointly developed by AICTE, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre.
It identifies innovative ideas and technological solutions to address 21st century cyber security and cybercrime challenges faced by law enforcement agencies and common citizens.
KAVACH-2023 will be organised in two phases.
In the first phase, topics related to Fake News/Social Media, Dark Web, Women Safety, Phishing Detection, Video Analytics/CCTV, Obscene Content Detection, Spam Alerts, and Malware Analysis/Digital Forensics will be covered.
10. Cabinet approves signing of the MoU between the India and South Africa for cooperation in Disability Sector
Tags: National National News
The Union Cabinet on 15 February approved the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and South Africa for cooperation in the 'disability sector'.
An overview of the news
It aims to encourage cooperation between the Department for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and South Africa through joint initiatives in the disability sector.
It will strengthen bilateral relations between India and South Africa.
This MoU will benefit a large number of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in both the countries, especially those who are in need of modern, scientific, durable, low cost aids and assistive devices.
South Africa
President: Cyril Ramaphosa
Capitals: Cape Town (Legislative), Pretoria (Executive), Bloemfontein (Judicial)
Currency : Rand
