CURRENT AFFAIRS 22 FEB 2021

1. INDIA-MALDIVES RELATION

India and Maldives signed agreements on wide range of domains including fish processing, public broadcasting, sustainable urban development, road infrastructure and housing.

About:

The agreement in the field of broadcasting is for cooperation between Prasar Bharati and PSM, the official State Media of Maldives. The MoU intends to facilitate collaboration and capacity building in the field of public broadcasting.
Dr Jaishankar also handed over one lakh additional doses of COVID vaccine to Mr Shahid and Maldivian Health Minister Ahmed Naseem.
India has signed a 50 million dollar Line of Credit agreement in defence sector with the Maldives. The agreement will facilitate capability building in the maritime domain.
Dr Jaishankar also co-signed the UTF Harbour Project agreement with Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Didi. He said that the project agreement will strengthen Maldivian Coast Guard capability and facilitate regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief efforts.
India also extended a new line of credit of US dollar 40 million for the development of new sports infrastructure in the Maldives.

Source : All India Radio

2. RBI OMBUDSMAN SCHEMES

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the Annual Report of the Ombudsman Schemes for the year 2019-20.

About:

RBI has three Ombudsmen- Banking, Non-Banking Finance Company (i.e. NBFC) and digital transactions. A common man can approach these Ombudsmen for their grievances.
As announced in the recent Monetary Policy Statement, the three Ombudsman Schemes are being merged and integrated into a single scheme which will be rolled out starting from June this year.

Key highlights of the report:

There was an increase of around 65 per cent in the receipt of complaints out of which almost 92 per cent have been disposed of.
Banking Ombudsman received major complaints regarding ATM & Debit Cards, Mobile & Electronic Banking while NBFC’s Ombudsmen received most complaints about non-observance of regulatory guidelines, lack of transparency in contract/ loan agreement and levy of charges without notice.
Digital Transactions Ombudsmen received most complaints about fund transfer. RBI has taken various measures for creating awareness among various stakeholders to minimise the grievances.

Source : All India Radio

3. LAXMI VILAS PALACE

Hearing arguments on the preservation of Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, a Gaekwadi heritage structure, the Gujarat High Court Chief Justice recalled a similar judgment by Allahabad High Court.

About:

The Lakshmi Vilas Palace is located in Vadodara, Gujarat.
It was constructed by the Gaekwad family, a prominent Maratha family, who ruled the Baroda State. It was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890.
Major Charles Mant was credited to be the main architect of the palace.
Lakshmi Vilas Palace was styled on the Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture.

Source : Indian Express

4. JB EKKA COMMITTEE

The Assam government announced that the wage of tea garden workers will be increased from Rs 167 to Rs 217 per day. Although the tea garden managements pay the wages, the government fixes it.

About:

Moreover, for equal wages of small tea workers, a one-man committee under Principal Secretary Dr JB Ekka will be formed.
Coming ahead of the state elections, the announcement is important because the tea tribe community — comprising 17% of the state’s population — is a deciding factor in almost 40 Assam Assembly seats out of the 126.
The community is spread over in 800 tea gardens plus several unorganised small gardens of Assam. It is marked by exploitation, economic backwardness, poor health conditions and low literacy rates.
Last Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a rally in the state that the party will ensure a Rs 365 per day wage to tea garden workers of Assam if elected to power.

Important Info :

In the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, Rs 1,000 crore was announced for the welfare of tea workers in Assam and West Bengal.

Source : Indian Express

5. RAILWAY PROJECTS IN WEST BENGAL

The Union Minister of Railways dedicated to the Nation various infrastructure development and passenger amenity related works in North Bengal area.

About:

126 Route Kilometer newly electrified section from New Jalpaiguri to New Coochbehar dedicated is part of the Railway electrification work which is going on to achieve 100% electrification of Indian Railways’ network.
The Haldibari station bordering Bangladesh has been constructed. PM Modi and PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the railway link between Haldibari in India and Chilahati in Bangladesh during the PM level virtual bilateral summit on 17.12.2020.
Gangarampur is an important town in the South Dinajpur district of West Bengal. The station here has been converted to a crossing station with provision of High level platform and modern Electronic Interlocking.
With an aim to provide better amenities and convenience to passenger, the Alipurduar Jn station has been re-developed to meet the operational requirement.
Madarihat station falling in the Dooars section of North Bengal is an important tourist place. The provision of a new Foot Over Bridge in between PF No. 1 & 2 which has been provided.

Important Info :

Railway electrification of the whole of N.F. Railway was sanctioned in the budget of 2018 and it is targeted to be completed by December, 2023.

Source : Business Standard

6. INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY

The Vice President Venkaiah Naidu celebrated the International Mother Language Day.

About:

When: The day is observed on the 21st of February every year to preserve and promote linguistic diversity and promoting mother tongue-based multilingual education.
Background: The declaration came up in tribute to the Language Movement done by the Bangladeshis (the then East Pakistanis). In Bangladesh the 21 February is the anniversary of the day when Bangladeshis fought for recognition for the Bangla language.
Bodies involved: UNESCO has been celebrating International Mother Language Day since 2000.

Important Info :

Need to preserve indigenous languages:

At least 43 % of the estimated 6000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. According to UN data, a language disappears every two weeks taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage.
Only a few hundred languages have genuinely been given a place in education systems and the public domain.

Source : RSTV

7. SYAMA PRASAD MOOKERJEE INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES AND RESEARCH

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at IIT Kharagpur on 23rd February 2021.

About:

The super speciality hospital has been set up by the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur with support from the Ministry of Education.
The hospital will focus on robust Biomedical, Clinical and Translational Research, development of remote diagnostics, telemedicine, teleradiology along with research in drug design and delivery.
The MBBS programme is expected to start from the academic year 2021-22 in addition to Postgraduate and doctoral programmes.

Source : PIB

8. GURU RAVIDAS

President Ram Nath Kovind said India's constitutional values of social justice, freedom, equality and fraternity are in line with Guru Ravidas's philosophy of life. He said this while addressing 'Shri Guru Ravidas Vishva Mahapeeth Rashtriya Adhiveshan in New Delhi.

About:

He was a Dalit-poet saint from the Bhakti movement era in northern India who probably lived during the 14th to 16th He belonged to a leather-working Chamar community, whose profession involved processing dead animals and their skins.
The 41 hymns of Guru Ravidas have been included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
The famous saint poetess, Mirabai was a disciple of Guru Ravidas.

Important Info :

Key teachings:

Everybody is equal in all respects, irrespective of caste, color or a belief in any form of God; Emphasised on universal brotherhood and tolerance.
God created man and not man created God;
He abandoned saguna (with attributes, image) forms of supreme beings, and focussed on the nirguna (without attributes, abstract) form of supreme beings.

Source : All India Radio

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CURRENT AFFAIRS 22 FEB 2021

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