1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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
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. Govt to borrow ₹13,879 crore to strengthen health infra from international agencies
Tags: Government Schemes National News
Minister of State for Health, Dr Bharti Pawar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said that the Government of India has signed loan agreements worth Rs 13,879 crore from international agencies to strengthen health infrastructure.
An overview of the news
With whom the loan agreement has been signed are-
1. Asian Development Bank (ADB) ($300 million or Rs 2,474 crore).
2. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (50 billion Japanese yen or Rs 3,162 crore)
3. World Bank ($1 billion or Rs 8,243 crore)
This loan has been taken to strengthen the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM) which is the largest health mission in India.
PMABHIM was launched to fill the gaps in the field of health infrastructure, especially critical and primary care facilities.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission
It is one of the biggest health schemes to strengthen the health care infrastructure in India.
The mission was announced in the Budget 2021-22 with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore.
It was launched in October 2021 with an aim to provide comprehensive health services across the country.
It aims to fill gaps in public healthcare infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in urban and rural areas.
7. 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
8. ADB approves $130 million loan to promote horticulture in Himachal
Tags: State News
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $130 million (over Rs 1,072 crore) loan to enhance agricultural productivity and farmers' income in Himachal Pradesh and promote horticulture agribusiness.
An overview of the news:
ADB aims to benefit Himachal Pradesh, where more than half of its land area is mountainous and 90 percent of its population lives in rural areas dependent on agriculture.
Through this, improving subtropical horticulture in the state will create a lot of economic opportunities for the farming families.
Supporting horticulture value chains will also enhance the contribution of this sub-sector to the development and food security of the country.
Asian Development Bank (ADB):
It is a regional multilateral financial institution focused on countries in the Asia and Pacific region.
It currently has 68 members – of which 49 are from the Asia and Pacific region and 19 from outside.
ADB President: Masatsugu Asakawa
Headquarters: Mandaluyong City, Manila, Philippines
9. SPIC MACAY and Ministry of Culture collaborates for 'Music in the Park' series under “Shruti Amrut”
Tags: National News
SPIC MACAY organizes its very popular 'Music in the Park' series this year under the name “Shruti Amrut” in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the New Delhi Municipal Council.
An overview of the news
In this series, the first event of 2023 was held on 15 January in Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
The concert began with a sarod performance by Aman Ali Bangash, the 7th generation musician of the Senia Bangash Gharana. Accompanied by Anubrata Chatterjee (tabla) and Abhishek Mishra (tabla).
This was followed by a Hindustani recital by Padma Bhushan Begum Parveen Sultana of Patiala Gharana, accompanied by Akram Khan (Tabla), Srinivas Acharya (Harmonium) and Shadab Sultana (Vocals).
About SPIC MACAY
SPIC MACAY (Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture among Youth) is a non-political, nationwide, voluntary organization.
It was founded in 1977 by Dr. Kiran Seth, Professor-Emeritus at IIT-Delhi, who was awarded the 'Padma Shri' in 2009 for his contribution to the arts.
It enriches the quality of formal education by raising awareness about various aspects of Indian heritage and inspiring young minds to imbibe the values inherent in it.
In 2011, SPIC MACAY was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award for its contribution to youth development.
10. 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.
