1. 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
2. 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
3. Bollywood actor Javed Khan Amrohi passes away
Tags: Person in news
Bollywood actor Javed Khan Amrohi passed away due to lung failure at a Mumbai hospital on 14 February.
An overview of the news
Amrohi is survived by a son and a daughter.
He worked in more than 150 films with many big stars including Shah Rukh Khan to Aamir Khan and Salman Khan.
Javed Khan last worked in the year 2020 in Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur starrer film 'Sadak 2'.
He started his career in 1973 with the film 'Jalte Badan'.
Apart from this, he worked in many best films like Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram, Prem Bandhan, Jhootha Kahin Ka, Prem Rog, Pasand Apni-Apni, Ram Teri Ganga Maili.
Apart from this, Doordarshan's famous show 'Nukkad' also gave him a lot of recognition, after that he also worked in Gulzar's 'Mirza Ghalib', in which his role of a fakir was highly appreciated.
Javed Khan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for the film 'Lagaan'.
4. 'Khanan Prahari' Mobile app to Curb Illegal Mining launched
Tags: National National News
The government on 13 February launched a mobile app namely ‘Khanan Prahari’ and a web app Coal Mine Surveillance and Management System (CMSMS).
An overview of the news
It has been launched to report unauthorised coal mining activities so that monitoring and appropriate action can be taken by the concerned law and order enforcing authority.
CMSMS Application
CMSMS has been developed to take transparent action to curb illegal mining and use of space technology as an e-governance initiative of Government of India.
Objective of CMSMS Application
To ascertain the participation of citizens against illegal mining by receipt of complaints of citizens through Mobile App Khanan Prahari
Monitoring and taking action on any illegal coal mining activity being carried out within the leasehold limits.
''Khanan Prahari' Mobile App
It is a mobile app of the Ministry of Coal to report illegal coal mining.
It is a tool for geo-tagged photographs of any illegal coal mining incident as well as information to any citizen from the location of the incident.'
5. Former England captain Eoin Morgan retires from all forms of cricket
Tags: Sports Sports News
Former England captain Eoin Morgan announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on 13 February.
An overview of the news
Morgan had said goodbye to international cricket on 28 June 2022. He announced his retirement from all three formats of cricket.
Eoin Morgan captained the ODI World Cup played in England in the year 2019 and won his team the title. He also became the first captain to win the ODI World Cup for England.
Morgan has scored 2458 runs playing a total of 115 T20 matches. While playing 248 ODIs, he scored 7701 runs.
Morgan captained England in 126 ODIs and 72 T20Is, registering 118 wins as captain in both formats.
Apart from this, he scored 700 runs in 16 Test matches.
Born in Dublin, Morgan made his ODI debut for England in 2009 at the age of 16 against Ireland.
6. 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.
7. DRDO develops unmanned vehicle for operations in Himalayan regions
Tags: Science and Technology
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Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed an unmanned aerial vehicle with the aim of targeting logistics operations on the Himalayan border.
An overview of the news
This aircraft has been displayed by DRDO at the 108th Indian Science Congress held in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
This UAV can fly with a load of 5 to 25 kg. and is also capable of dropping bombs in enemy territory.
The aircraft can conduct autonomous missions within a radius of five kilometres and automatically return to the origin after delivering the cargo to the designated location.
This UAV is equipped with landing accuracy as well as ground vehicle follow mode and modular design, due to which this UAV can prove to be very useful during the war.
This multi-copter payload has been successfully tested by DRDO at an altitude of 14 thousand feet in Sikkim. After two more trials, this UAV will be inducted into the Armed Forces.
Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was established in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - Sameer V Kamath
8. DRDO celebrated its 65th foundation day
Tags: Important Days
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 65th foundation day on 1st January 2023.
Important facts
DRDO Chairman Dr S V Kamat addressed the DRDO fraternity on the occasion.
He reaffirmed DRDO's commitment towards R&D excellence and briefed about the development of cutting edge technologies for self-reliance in defence.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
It is working on several cutting-edge military technology areas, including aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation, engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation, cyber, hypersonic technology, quantum computing and communications
DRDO's first project for the Indian military was in surface-to-air missiles (SAM) known as Project Indigo.
Since inception, DRDO has made several breakthroughs in developing key systems and critical technologies such as aircraft avionics, UAVs, small arms, artillery systems, EW systems, tanks and armoured vehicles, sonar systems, command and control systems and missile systems
It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.
It was set up in 1958.
Headquarters - New Delhi
Chairman - Samir V Kamat
9. Air version of BrahMos Missile with 400 km Range test fired form IAF Sukhoi plane
Tags: Defence
The Indian Air Force successfully tested the extended range version of the Brahmos Air Launched missile against a ship target in Bay of Bengal from Su-30 MKI fighter jet on 29 December 2022.
According to the media report the extended range of the Brahmos missile is believed to have the ability to take out targets in sea 400 km away.
According to the Defence ministry the supersonic cruise missile successfully achieved all its mission objectives.
The successful test firing was a joint effort by the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the BrahMos Aerospace (BAPL).
In May this year, the extended-range version of the supersonic missile was successfully tested from the Sukhoi fighter. The extended range was reported to have increased to 350 km from 290 km.
Brahmos missile
Brahmos supersonic missile has been developed by the Brahmos Aerospace ltd. The company is a joint venture of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and Russia’s NPOM.
The missile takes its name from the river Brahmaputra and Moskva Rivers. Russian capital Moscow is situated along the Moskva River.
The missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land platforms.
The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has a two-stage propellant booster engine. The first stage is a solid booster engine and the second stage is the liquid ramjet engine. The missile has a low radar signature.
The missile has a speed of 2.8 Mach or 2.8 times the speed of the sound.
The missile has a range of 290-400 km.
The Philippines is the first country in the world to buy the Brahmos missile from India.
Managing Director and CEO of Brahmos Aerospace: Atul Dinkar Rane
10. Power ministry, DRDO ink pact to install early warning systems for power stations
Tags: National News
On 27 December the Ministry of Power has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the implementation of an early warning system for vulnerable hydroelectric projects/power stations.
Important facts
Power Secretary Alok Kumar and DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat signed the MoU in New Delhi.
It aims to jointly work towards developing appropriate mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes and other land hazards.
DRDO's expertise will also be utilized in developing a comprehensive early warning system for vulnerable hydroelectric projects/power stations in hilly areas.
With the comprehensive understanding developed through this MoU, separate and specific assignments will be drawn up between DRDO and the respective project developers.
Under the leadership of Union Power Minister RK Singh, the Ministry of Power has taken the initiative to implement Early Warning System (EWS) in hydro power projects especially located in the upper reaches of hilly areas.
Early Warning System (EWS)
It is an adaptive measure to climate change, which uses integrated communication systems to help communities prepare for dangerous climate-related events.
A successful EWS saves lives and jobs, land and infrastructure and provides long-term sustainability.
This will aid in planning in the public sector, saving money in the long run and protecting economies.
