1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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.
5. Saudi Arabia to send its 1st female astronaut to space this year
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Saudi Arabia's first female astronaut is set to go into space this year, in what is seen as a move to reform Saudi Arabia's ultra-conservative image.
An overview of the news
Saudi female astronaut Rayna Barnawi will join Saudi Ali Al-Qarni on a 10-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this year.
Barnawi and al-Karni will fly to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of a mission by American privately funded space infrastructure developer private space company Axiom Space .
The Ax-2 will be launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, America.
Another fellow Emirati, Sultan Al-Neyadi will also visit the space station at the end of February 2023.
Axiom Space launched its first private astronaut mission to the ISS in April 2022, with four private astronauts spending 17 days in space orbit.
In 2019, Saudi Arabia's neighbouring United Arab Emirates became the first Arab country to send a citizen into space. Astronaut Hazza al-Mansoori spent eight days on the ISS.
In 1985, Saudi royal prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz participated in a US-organised space mission, becoming the first Arab Muslim to travel in space.
Saudi Arabia
King - Salman
Capital - Riyadh
Currency - Saudi Arabian riyal
Official Language - Arabic
Official Religion - Islam
6. Moldov's PM Natalia Gavrilita resigns
Tags: Person in news International News
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita announced her resignation on 10 February.
An overview of the news
She resigned, citing lack of support in the former Soviet republic. She was in power only for 18 months.
Moldova's President Maia Sandu has accepted Gavrilita's resignation and said she will speak to parliamentary groups about a possible replacement.
Ms. Gavrilita's party won a majority in the elections held in August 2021.
The next prime minister of Moldova could be Dorin Risen, a European security adviser who is a supporter of Sandu.
Rieken is expected to be approved as the country's prime minister without interference.
Moldova, a former Soviet republic with a population of 2.5 million people, is already facing a host of issues such as rising inflation, a massive influx of refugees from Ukraine and a severe energy crisis in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Moscow significantly reduced its electricity supply to Moldova.
Last year alone, the country saw protests against a dramatic increase in prices, particularly for Russian gas.
About Moldova
Moldova is located between Ukraine and Romania.
Capital: Chișinău
President: Maia Sandu
Official Language : Romanian
Currency : Moldovan leu
7. PM Modi flags off Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam Vande Bharat Express train
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Pongal on 15 January, virtually flagged off the Vande Bharata Express train connecting Secunderabad with Vishakhapatnam.
An overview of the news
This is the 8th Vande Bharata Express which will cover a distance of about eight hours between Secunderabad in Telangana and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The intermediate stops envisaged for the train include Warangal, Khammam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry.
This will lead to ease of living, boost tourism and benefit the economy.
In the last few years, seven Vande Bharat trains have covered a distance of 23 lakh kms, carrying 40 lakh passengers to their destinations.
The state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express can accelerate to 100 kmph in just 52 seconds.
Name of all 8 Vande Bharat Express train
Varanasi-New Delhi,
Katra-New Delhi,
Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar,
Amb Andaura - New Delhi
Chennai - Mysuru
Nagpur - Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)
Howraha-New Jalpaiguri
Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam
About Vande Bharat Express Train
The first Vande Bharat Express was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2019.
These trains have a self-propelled engine which can save diesel and reduce electricity usage by up to 30%.
The first Vande Bharat Express was manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
It was manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs 100 crore.
These trains can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph.
In the Union Budget for 2022-2023 the government has proposed the development and manufacture of 400 new Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.
8. Rajasthan Government to provide LPG cylinder at Rs 500 per cylinder; Ashok Gehlot
Tags: Person in news State News
The Rajasthan Government will provide 12 LPG cylinders per year to the poor families at Rs 500 per cylinder from 1 April 2023. This was announced by the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Alwar on 19 December 2022.
He said the decision was taken to provide relief to the people suffering from unprecedented inflation and unemployment.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ (PMUY) was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 May 2016 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
Under the scheme a poor household headed by a woman is provided with a free LPG gas stove and free first LPG Cylinder.
However under the scheme the beneficiaries have to buy the subsidized LPG cylinder.
The target of the PMUY was to release 8 crore LPG connections by March 2020 which was achieved on 7 September 2019.
PMUY 2.0
It was launched virtually by PM Modi on 10 August 2021 at Mahoba, Madhya Pradesh.
It aims to provide additional 1.6 crore LPG connections with special focus on migrant households.
Connection is provided to an adult woman belonging to a poor household.
The beneficiaries should belong to any of the following categories:
- Eligible as per Socio Economic Caste Census 2011 list,
- Belongs to SC/ST households, be a beneficiary of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Forest dwellers, Most Backward Classes (MBC), Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Tribes, People residing in river Islands.
9. India’s largest and fourth business jet terminal commissioned at Cochin International Airport
Tags: State News
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the country's first and biggest charter gateway – the Business Jet Terminal -- at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on 10 December 2022. Cochin airport has become the 4th airport in India after Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad with dedicated private Jet terminals.
According to the CIAL Managing Director, S Suhas “The Business Jet Terminal is going to be India's first Charter Gateway, which will serve as a platform to integrate business jet service, tourism and business conferences,
The business jet terminal inaugurated today was built at a cost of 40 crore rupees by renovating the old domestic terminal. It covers an area of 40,000 sq feet with comfortable lounges, customs and immigration counters, a business centre and other modern facilities.
Cochin International Airport was the first airport in the world to run on solar power. It is the largest airport in Kerala and the seventh largest in India.
International Airports in Kerala
Kerala has the highest number of operational international airports in India. It has 4 international airports. They are:
- Trivandrum International Airport ,
- Cochin International airport ,
- Calicut International Airport and
- Kannur International Airport.
10. A UN panel has recommended that Australia's Great Barrier Reef be listed as a World Heritage Site
Tags: Environment International News
A United Nations panel recommended on November 29, 2022 that Australia's Great Barrier Reef should be listed as a World Heritage Site that is "in danger".
Important facts
The world's largest coral reef ecosystem has been greatly affected by climate change and ocean warming.
Frequent bleaching events and La Nina are threatening the reef.
Bleaching occurs when water gets too warm, causing corals to expel the colourful algae living in their tissues and turn white.
Australia's recently elected government has pledged to spend A$1.2 billion ($800 million) over the coming years to protect the reef.
What are Coral reefs?
Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems on Earth.
They play an important role in marine ecosystems and support habitats for flora and fauna in the ocean.
Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony.
About Great Barrier Reef
It extends for 1400 miles along the north-east coast of Queensland, Australia and is the world's most extensive and rich coral reef ecosystem.
It is made up of more than 2,900 reefs and more than 900 islands.
It is the largest single structure in the world made by living organisms.
This reef was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.
