1. 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
2. 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)
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates IFFCO Nano Urea Liquid Plants at Aonla and Phulpur in UP
Tags: National News
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the IFFCO Nano Urea Liquid Plants at Aonla and Phulpur in Uttar Pradesh on 14 February.
An overview of the news
Nano Urea will ensure the progress of the farmers in times to come, increasing their income.
In this way it will change the future of Indian farmers.
Nano Urea is the best green technology and provides a solution to pollution.
It protects the soil and also increases the production and hence best for the farmers.
Nano DAP has been approved by the expert committee of the government and it will soon replace DAP.
Nano-DAP will greatly benefit farmers and will be available at half the cost of DAP.
What is Liquid Nano Urea (LNU)?
Nano urea is a liquid form of nitrogen providing plant nutrient as a conventional alternative to urea.
It has been developed in place of conventional urea and has the potential to reduce the requirement of conventional urea by at least 50 percent.
One 500 ml bottle contains 40,000 mg/l nitrogen, which can provide nitrogen nutrients equivalent to one bag/sack of normal urea.
The effectiveness of Nano Urea Liquid is more than 80%.
Its use has been found to increase the yield by about 8%.
Its aim is to reduce farmers’ dependence on packaged urea.
6. India and Fiji sign MoU on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports
Tags: International Relations International News
India and Fiji signed a Memorandum of Understanding on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders on 16 February in presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
An overview of the news
Under this agreement, holders of diplomatic and official passports will be able to enter, transit and stay in each other's territory without a visa for a period of 90 days.
India and Fiji share close and long-standing relations and the two countries also reviewed bilateral relations.
India and Fiji have inaugurated the solarisation of the State House in Suva and this is the first of a series that India is supporting in the Pacific Islands.
It shows India's commitment towards climate action.
The Visa Waiver Agreement will be helpful in encouraging greater travel between the two countries.
Republic of Fiji
It is an archipelago consisting of around 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
Capital: Suva
Currency: Fijian Dollar
President : Wiliame Katonivere
Prime Minister: Sitiveni Rabuka
7. First Agriculture Deputies Meeting of the Agriculture Working Group
Tags: Summits National News
The first Agriculture Representatives Meeting (ADM) of the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) under the G20 chairmanship of India was held in Indore.
An overview of the news
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched it on 14 February 2023.
On the second day of the meeting, presentations were made on the release note for AWG, covering the four key themes of Food Security and Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture with Climate Smart Approach, Inclusive Agriculture Value Chain and Digitization for Food System and Agriculture Transformation.
Member countries, invited countries and international organisations made their interventions on the issue note.
G20 member states and guest countries also held bilateral meetings focusing on the G20 agriculture agenda.
After the technical session, the delegates visited Silotia village in Dhar district where they saw organic farming in poly house.
The key deliverables of the AWG will be discussed on the third and concluding day of the event.
Mention was made about the 3S template for development in the agriculture sector – ie Smart, Serve All and Sustainable.
Their views were also presented on the importance of drones in the Indian agriculture development saga.
8. WPL 2023: Smriti Mandhana created history, became the most expensive player
Tags: Sports Sports News
India's star opener Smriti Mandhana has become the costliest player in the ongoing player auction for the Women's Premier League (WPL).
An overview of the news
She joined Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 3.4 crore after winning the highest bid in the ongoing Women's Premier League 2023 auction in Mumbai.
A total of 448 players were included in the auction, out of which 87 players were bought by the franchises. 30 foreign players were also involved in this.
Ashley Gardner (Australia) was at number two in the list of expensive players. He was bought by Gujarat Giants for Rs 3.20 crore.
Natalie Sciver is at number three. She was bought by Mumbai Indians for 3.20 crores.
India's all-rounder Deepti Sharma is at number four. Deepti is included in UP Warriors for 2.60 crores.
Jemima Rodrigues was at number five. He was included in their team by Delhi Capitals for 2.20 crores.
About Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana is a young and talented left-handed Indian batsman and former captain of the Indian women's cricket team.
Mandhana is known for her attacking batting style and has been a consistent performer in the T20I format.
Mandhana made her T20I debut in April 2013 against Bangladesh.
In the T20 International format, he has played 65 matches and scored 1743 runs at an average of 27.61.
His highest score in T20 International format is 83 and he has 9 fifties to his name.
In June 2018, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awarded her as the Best Female International Cricketer.
In December 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded her the Rachael Hayhoe-Flint Award for the best female cricketer of the year.
9. PM Modi to inaugurate national Aadi Mahotsav on Feb 16 in New Delhi
Tags: Festivals National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the national Aadi Mahotsav on 16th February, 2023 at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi.
An overview of the news
This 15-day festival is being organised at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
This was announced at a media briefing by the Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda in New Delhi.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is making all out efforts to ensure full participation of tribal communities in realising the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The Minister said that TRIFED is working with top designers to ensure quality and contemporary design in tribal products as well as to retain their originality.
Theme of Aadi Mahotsav 2023
The Theme of the event “A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Crafts, Culture, Cuisine and Commerce”.
The theme represents the basic ethos of tribal life.
Festival Highlights
The festival will feature exhibition-cum-sale of tribal handicrafts, handlooms, paintings, jewellery, cane and bamboo, pottery, food and natural products, tribal cuisine and more to showcase it through 200 stalls.
One thousand tribal artisans and artists from 28 states and union territories will participate in the festival.
About Aadi Mahotsav
It is a national tribal festival and a joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).
It was started in the year 2017.
The main objective of this festival is to acquaint people with the rich and diverse crafts and culture of tribal communities at one place.
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED)
It came into existence in 1987.
TRIFED is a national-level organisation functioning under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Its Head Office is located in New Delhi and has a network of 13 Regional Offices.
It aims at socio-economic development of tribal people in the country through marketing development of tribal products.
10. New Zealand declares national emergency after Cyclone Gabrielle lashes North Island
Tags: International News
The New Zealand government has declared a national emergency after Cyclone Gabrielle hit the North Island.
An overview of the news
Cyclone Gabrielle causes widespread flooding, landslides and huge ocean swells across the North Island.
This is an unprecedented weather event that is having widespread impacts across much of the North Island.
Gabriel appeared over some small islands about 100 km north-east of Auckland, but is now moving south-west.
National State of Emergency in New Zealand
A national state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand on two previous occasions – the first in 2011 after a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch and the second in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
