Current Affairs Today 28th February 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 28th February 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

• National Protein Day was observed on 27 February.
• National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated on 28 February in India.
• Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar inaugurated “Baroda Startup Banking”.
• The Airtel Payments Bank has launched the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS).
• Bharti AXA General Insurance, a private non-life insurer becomes the 1st company in India to use Whatsapp chatbot.
• American tech major Accenture opened its third ‘innovation hub’ in the country at Pune, which will house 1,200 people working on various technologies.
• The Union Cabinet approved to grant the status of National Importance to National Institutes of Food Technology (NIFT) at Kundli, Haryana, and Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, on 26 February.
• Centre approved the establishment of 80,000 Micro Enterprises to be assisted in the current financial year under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
• The President of India Ram Nath Kovind is to visit the States of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh from 28 February to 2 March 2020.
• Losar festival was celebrated by the Tibetans from 24-26 February. The festival was celebrated in the Dharamshala, Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
• Bihar became the 1st National Democratic Alliance (NDA) state in India, which passed a resolution against National Register of Citizens (NRC) and also passed a resolution to implement the National Population Register (NPR), according to 2010 format, with an amendment.
• Sri Lankan Government formally notified the United Nations that it will withdraw from the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) resolution for investigating alleged war crimes
• Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and wifi service in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 27 February.
• A Joint Seminar on the theme “Challenges Of The Evolving Threats Facing India” was held at Air Force Station Tughlakabad, New Delhi.
• India and Myanmar signed several Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) during the State Visit of the President of Myanmar to India from 26-29 February.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Sumant Kathpalia as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Induslnd Bank Ltd.
• The Raja Ravi Varma State Award was conferred on veteran painter from Kalaburagi, Prof. J.S. Khanderao (for the year 2019) and senior artist from Mumbai, Vasudev Kamath (2020).
• Sahitya Akademi’s Translation Prize for 2019 in the category of translation into English has been awarded to Kannada novel Kusumabale by Devanur Mahadeva, translated into English by Susan Daniel.
• Sreekar Prasad, a veteran editor has entered the Limca Book of Records for ‘films edited in the most number of languages‘.
• NITI Aayog, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), in collaboration with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), launched an AI-based Module rolled out for students in Indian schools on 27 February.
• Renowned Vedic Scholar Sudhakar Chaturvedi passed away in Bengaluru on 27 February. He was believed to be 122-years-old.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

National Protein Day was observed on 27 February

• National Protein Day was observed on 27 February.
• The day is observed every year.
• The day marks the annual commemorative day to rally Indians towards the mission of protein awareness and sufficiency.

Theme:

• The theme of India Protein Day 2020 is #ProteinMeinKyaHai.
• The theme aims to spread more knowledge about protein.
• The main objective of the day is to bring about a behavioral change by persuading Indians to eat adequate protein in every meal.

Extra Shots:

History:

• The India Protein day was launched on 27 February 2020 under the Right to Protein, a national-level public health initiative.
• The day was launched to draw public attention, raise awareness, and educate India on the health benefits of protein.
• The day is observed in many countries globally.

National Science Day is celebrated on 28 February

• National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated on 28 February in India.
• The day is celebrated every year to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by the Indian physicist Sir CV Raman.

Aim:

• The main objective of the day is to raise awareness to people about the importance of science in daily life.
• The day aims to encourage people by popularizing Science and Technology.

Theme:

• The theme of 2020 National Science Day is ‘Women in Science’.

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Sir CV Raman:

• Sir CV Raman was born on 7 November 1888, at Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. In 1904, he obtained a B.Sc degree from the University of Madras and won the gold medal in Physics. In 1907, he got his Master’s degree at the University of Madras. He worked at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Kolkata from 1907 to 1933. He did various research on various topics in Physics. On 28 February 1928, Raman and Indian physicist KS Krishnan led an experiment on the scattering of light. In 1930, Raman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics. He then discovered the Raman effect. Raman Effect explains the effect on the scattering of light as it passes through different materials. Raman established the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore. Raman passed away on 21 November 1970.

BANKING AND FINANCE

Finance Secretary launches Baroda Startup Banking in 15 cities

• Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar inaugurated “Baroda Startup Banking”.

OBJECTIVE:

• It is an initiative aimed at making the Bank of Baroda (BoB) a preferred banking partner for the start-up community and establishing connect with at least 2,000 start-ups over the next two years.
• The initiative was launched simultaneously across 15 cities in the country.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

• It will include 15 Baroda Startup branches that will offer a bouquet of tailor-made banking products and services that have been designed keeping in mind the unique and specialized banking requirements of start-ups.
• The products include customised current accounts, state-of-the-art payments gateways, corporate credit cards, corporate salary accounts and credit facilities apart from other existing products of the bank.
• In addition to end-to-end banking solutions for start-ups, the bank will also ensure that it meets the ancillary needs of start-ups by partnering with marquee service providers to assist start-ups by way of cloud credits, mentorship, co-working space, legal/accounting services and other support services.

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Bank of Baroda (BoB):

• Founded:20 July 1908
• Headquarters: Vadodara, Gujarat
• MD and CEO: Sanjiv Chadha
• Chairman: Hasmukh Adhia
• Tagline: India’s International Bank

Aadhaar-enabled Payment System rolled out by Airtel Payments Bank

• The Airtel Payments Bank has launched the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS).
• The facility has been launched by the payment bank at over 2,50,000 banking points across India.
• After the launch of AePS, the customers of any bank with Aadhaar-linked bank accounts will be able to do financial transactions at the designated banking points of Airtel Payments Bank.
• It will also allow the Airtel Payments Bank’s customers to do financial transactions at any AePS enabled bank.
• With the launch of the system, the Airtel Payments Bank will be able to service customers of any bank who have an Aadhaar-enabled bank account and hence, head towards the Government of India’s vision of financial inclusion.

Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AePS):

• Aadhaar-enabled payment system enables the customers to carry out different types of financial transactions such as balance enquiries, requesting mini-statements on a micro-ATM and cash withdrawals with the help of their Aadhaar number or virtual ID to access their Aadhaar-linked bank account.
• The desired transactions will be processed successfully only if the Aadhaar number of the customer and his/her fingerprint match the records.
• It offers an ease of secured banking to every customer with the help of their their Aadhaar.
• With this facility, the customers can do financial transactions without revealing their bank account or debit card details to anyone.

Extra Shots:

Airtel Payments Bank is a public limited company with its headquarters in New Delhi, India. The company is a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel. It is the first company in India to receive a payments bank license from the Reserve Bank of India and it became the first live payments bank in the country.

• CEO: Anubrata Biswas
• Headquarters location: New Delhi
• Parent organization: Bharti Airtel
• Founded: 2017
• Area served: India
• Subsidiary: YTS Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Bharti AXA General Insurance uses Whatsapp to deliver policy & renewal documents

• Bharti AXA General Insurance, a private non-life insurer becomes the 1st company in India to use Whatsapp chatbot.
• Through this service, the company started delivering policies and renewal premium to its customers.
• It plans to sell the private car, two-wheeler and travel insurance through a WhatsApp chatbot.

Whatsapp chatbot:

• It is an Instant Messaging platform to be connected with the policyholders anytime,anywhere.
• It is a user- friendly chat structure where the customers could raise requests through numeric inputs, which reduces the difficulty of the customers.
• It provides instant & additional customer service options, & assistance for various queries for the policyholders other than the company’s multiple channels, which includes its vast network of branches,strong customer care & contact center & its dynamic portal.
• By providing the pin code of the city/town in the chatbot it helps to locate the nearest cashless network of garages & hospitals.
• Customers can register motor claims & check claim status & a branch locator feature is also available.
• With the use of Whatsapp chatbot the time is reduced from 8-9 minutes for call to immediate & instant closures.
• To initiate Whatsapp support & updates, customers should give a missed call to the company on its specific number.

Extra Shots:

Bharti Axa General Insurance Company Ltd. is a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and Axa business Group that operates in India. Bharti Enterprises shares 51% stake in the venture while Axa Group shares 49% stake. The company offers general insurance products to retail and commercial clients.

• CEO: Sanjeev Srinivasan
• Headquarters location: Mumbai
• Founded: 2008
• Area served: India
• Parent organizations: Bharti Enterprises (51%), Axa (49%)

Accenture opens innovation hub in Pune

• American tech major Accenture opened its third ‘innovation hub’ in the country at Pune, which will house 1,200 people working on various technologies.
• Bengaluru and Hyderabad are the other Indian cities having the hubs, which are also present in two cities of Brazil, and one each in Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Switzerland, Australia and Singapore.
• The hub at Pune, located at SP Infocity, will also feature Accenture’s second Nano Lab in the Asia-Pacific region.
• At the Pune centre, clients will be able to co-innovate with Accenture’s experts in extended reality, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, blockchain and quantum computing across sectors, it stated in a statement.
• The hub will enable clients to scale their technology investments and boost their business outcomes across the enterprise, and also create new opportunities for local talent, Bhaskar Ghosh, the group chief executive for Accenture Technology Services.

Extra Shots:

Accenture: Accenture plc, stylised as accenture, is an Irish-domiciled multinational professional services company that provides services in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations

• CEO: Julie Sweet
• Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Cabinet approved to accord National Importance status to NIFTS at Kundli, Thanjavur

• The Union Cabinet approved to grant the status of National Importance to National Institutes of Food Technology (NIFT) at Kundli, Haryana, and Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, on 26 February.
• It was announced by the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar.

Benefits:

• The approval to grant National Importance status will bring more professionalism and lead to faster growth of these institutes.
• The status will lead to improved quality in the institutes.
• The Bill to confer the status to the institute will be introduced in Parliament to declare the National Institutes of Food Technology at Kundli and Thanjavur of National Importance.

Centre approves establishment of 80,000 Micro Enterprises under PMEGP

• Centre approved the establishment of 80,000 Micro Enterprises to be assisted in the current financial year under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
• The approval was decided in a meeting chaired by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of MSME, and Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister with senior management of all Banks.
• The meeting reviewed the key schemes of the Ministry of MSME which generate a large number of jobs with low capital investment.
• It focused on PMEGP and Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) to generate employment.
• Discussion to restructure stressed loans due to sector-related problems or issues with the large industries to which they supply was addressed.

Extra Shots:

PMEGP:

• PMEGP is a credit-linked subsidy scheme.
• It promotes self-employment through the setting up of micro-enterprises.
• Under the scheme, a subsidy up to 35% will be provided by GoI through the Ministry of MSME.
• The loan can be availed for loans up to Rs.25 lakhs in manufacturing and Rs.10 lakhs in the service sector.
• No income ceiling for setting up the project under the scheme.
• The scheme will generate self-employment opportunities by establishing micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and unemployed youth in rural and urban areas.
• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is the nodal implementation agency of the scheme at the national level.

President of India to visit Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh

• The President of India Ram Nath Kovind is to visit the States of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh from 28 February to 2 March 2020.

Agenda:

• On 28th February, the President will address the first convocation of the Central University of Jharkhand in Ranchi.
• On 29th February, the second day, he is expected to visit Vikas Bharti, Bishunpur in Gumla, Jharkhand.
• On 2nd March, the President Kovind will deliver the convocation address at the Guru Ghasidas University in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Losar festival is celebrated in Himachal Pradesh

• Losar festival was celebrated by the Tibetans from 24-26 February.
• The festival was celebrated in the Dharamshala, Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
• The festival is aimed to preserve its unique identity and rich traditions.
• The festival includes sacred and secular prayers, several ceremonies, rituals, and folk dancing.

Highlights:

• The special feature of the festival is the ‘Chham Dance.’
• During the festival, people prepare famous dishes like the ‘Kapse’ (cake) and drinks like the ‘Chang’ (alcoholic beverage).
• An occasion of “khepa” is observed, a day before the start of the Losar Festival. On this occasion, people fetch small branches of a thorny bush and keep on the doors of the houses to protect them from evil spirits.
• During the festival, the lighting of butter lamps by the lamas, with each lamp signifying Buddha’s enlightenment.

Extra Shots:

History:

• Losar is a festival in Tibetan Buddhism.
• It originated in Tibet during its pre-Buddhist period.
• It was known as the Agrarian Festival.
• The festival was organized to celebrate the blossoming of the apricot trees.
• According to the Tibetan lunar calendar, the lamas decide the date of celebration of Losar Festival.
• The festival is celebrated on the first day of the New Year.
• The festival marks the beginning of the winter season in Lahaul and Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh.
• The festival is celebrated for 15 days. The main celebrations will be held on the first three days (24-26 February 2020).

Haryana:

• State formed on: 1 November 1966
• Capital: Chandigarh
• Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
• Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
• Official language: Hindi

Bihar 1st NDA state to adopt resolution against NRC, and to implement NPR

• Bihar became the 1st National Democratic Alliance (NDA) state in India, which passed a resolution against National Register of Citizens (NRC) and also passed a resolution to implement the National Population Register (NPR), according to 2010 format, with an amendment. In this regard, a unanimous resolution has been passed by the Bihar assembly.

Extra Shots:

Bihar:

• Capital: Patna
• Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
• Governor: Phagu Chauhan
• UNESCO Heritage sites: Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University), Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Sri Lanka withdraws from UN Rights Resolution

• Sri Lankan Government formally notified the United Nations that it will withdraw from the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) resolution for investigating alleged war crimes.
• The case was dealing with a decade-old clash with Tamil separatists.
• The UNHRC resolution 40/1 was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and 11 other countries.
• The main aim of the resolution is investigation of war time violence against Tamil Tiger rebels.
• The Tamil Rebels were demanding separate homeland.
• They were claiming that they were ethnic tamil minority and hence are eligible for separate homeland.

Extra Shots:

UNHRC: The United Nations Human Rights Council is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis.

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded: 15 March 2006
• President: Coly Seck
• Parent organization: United Nations General Assembly
• Formation: 15 March 2006

Sri Lanka(Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/ Sri Lankan rupee

• President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated BSNL FTTH in Dehradun

• Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and wifi service in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on 27 February.
• The move by BSNL is to expand its services in rural areas.

BSNL FTTH:

• Fiber to the home (FTTH) is the installation and use of optical fiber from a central point directly to individual buildings such as apartments, residences, buildings, and businesses.
• FTTH will provide unprecedented high-speed Internet access.
• It increases the connection speeds available to computers up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps).
• It is 20 to 100 times as fast as a typical cable modem or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection.
• Implementation of FTTH on a large scale will be costly as it requires the installation of new cable sets over the last links from existing optical fiber cables to individual users.

Extra Shots:

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL): BSNL provides mobile voice and internet services through its nationwide telecommunications network across India.

• Founded on: 1 October 2000
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Chairman & MD: Pravin Kumar Purwar

CAPS-HQ MC Joint Seminar on Challenges of the Evolving Threats Facing India held in New Delhi

• A Joint Seminar on the theme “Challenges Of The Evolving Threats Facing India” was held at Air Force Station Tughlakabad, New Delhi.
• It was organized by the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and Maintenance Command, Indian Air Force (MC, IAF) on 25 February.
• The event was inaugurated by Air Marshal Shashiker Choudhary AVSM VSM, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, MC IAF.

Participants:

• Delegations including Air Marshal KK Nohwar PVSM VM (Retd), Director General, CAPS; Dr. Shalini Chawla, Distinguished fellow, CAPS; Air Vice Marshal VC Wankhade AOES MC, IAF participated in the seminar. Also, Officers from Units under Maintenance Command IAF and Distinguished Senior Research Fellows from CAPS participated in the seminar.

Highlights:

• The seminar hosted three sessions.
• The first session focussed on ‘Politico-Military Environment with respect to India-China Relations post-Wuhan and Mahabalipuram’ and ‘India–Pakistan Relations post-Balakot and Abrogation of Article-370’.
• The second session covered on ‘New Challenges with respect to Trajectory of China’s Nuclear Weapons Programme & Safeguarding India’s Critical Information Infrastructure,’ which was chaired by Dr. Shalini Chawla, Distinguished fellow, CAPS.
• The third session was titled ‘Capability building at Base Repair Depots and Equipment Depots of the IAF.’

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

India, Myanmar exchanged agreements in various fields

• India and Myanmar signed several Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) during the State Visit of the President of Myanmar to India from 26-29 February.
• President Myint’s visit comes after the invitation extended by President Ram Nath Kovind.

All MoUs in Details:

1. MoU was signed on Cooperation for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons; Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation, and Re-Integration of Victims of Trafficking by HE Shri Saurabh Kumar Ambassador of India to Myanmar and HE Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar to India
2. An agreement was signed regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIP) by HE Shri Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador of India to Myanmar and HE Moe Kyaw AungAmbassador of Myanmar to India.
3. A Project Agreement was signed for construction of an incinerator in Mrauk Oo township hospital, construction of seed storage houses and water supply systems in Gwa township under Rakhine State Development Programme by HE Shri Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador of India to Myanmar and HE Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar to India.
4. Project Agreement for distribution of electricity by solar power in five townships of Rakhine State under Rakhine State Development Program was signed by HE Shri Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador of India to Myanmar and HE Moe Kyaw Aung,Ambassador of Myanmar to India.
5. Project Agreement for construction of Kyawlyaung- Ohlphyu road, construction of Kyaung Taung Kyaw Paung road in Buthedaung Township under Rakhine State Development Program was signed by HE Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador of India to Myanmar and HE Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar to India.
6. A Project Agreement for construction of pre-schools under the Rakhine State Development Programme was signed by HE Shri Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador of India to Myanmar and HE Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar to India.
7. An MoU for Cooperation on Combating Timber Trafficking and Conservation of Tigers and other Wildlife was signed by HE Shri Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador of India to Myanmar and HE Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar to India.
8. An MoU between Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) India and Ministry of Electricity & Energy, Myanmar for cooperation in the field of petroleum products was signed by Shri Sunil Kumar, Joint Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India and U Than Zaw Director-General, Oil & Gas Planning Department, Ministry of Electricity & Energy, Ambassador of India to Myanmar Shri Saurabh Kumar and Ambassador of Myanmar to India Mr. Moe Kyaw Aung.
9. An MoU between the Ministry of Communications of India and the Ministry of Transport & Communications of Myanmar on cooperation in the field of communication was signed by Mr. Anshu Prakash, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications and H.E Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador of Myanmar.

Extra Shots:

Myanmar (Capital/Currency): Naypyidaw/Kyat

• President: Win Myint
• State Counsellor: Aung San Suu Kyi

APPOINTMENT

Sumant Kathpalia appointed as MD and CEO of Induslnd Bank Ltd

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Sumant Kathpalia as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Induslnd Bank Ltd.
• The appointment with effect from 24 March 2020.
• He will hold the office for a tenure of three years. Kathpalia will replace Romesh Sobti.

Romesh Sobti:

• Sobti has been serving as MD & CEO at Induslnd Bank since 2008.
• Prior to that, he served as the India head for ABN Amro Bank.

Sumant Kathpalia:

• Sumant Kathpalia is a former ABN Amro employee. He currently heads Induslnd Bank’s retail lending business.
• The appointment of Kathpalia was nominated and remunerated by the committee of the Induslnd bank’s board.
• It was communicated to RBI in November 2019.

Extra Shots:

IndusInd Bank Limited: IndusInd Bank was the first bank among the new-generation private banks across India. It offers transactional, commercial, and electronic banking products and services.

• Founded on: 1994
• Founder: S. P. Hinduja
• Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra

AWARDS

Raja Ravi Varma Award 2020 conferred

• The Raja Ravi Varma State Award was conferred on veteran painter from Kalaburagi, Prof. J.S. Khanderao (for the year 2019) and senior artist from Mumbai, Vasudev Kamath (2020).
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs.10,000 and a citation.
• Raja Ravi Varma State Award was instituted by Karnataka’s Shri Ravivarma Art Institute.
• J.S. Khanderao was awarded for his art that defines the history of human culture as the art is a form of human expression.
• The painting dates back to the ages of primitive times.
• The art form has undergone rapid transformations over centuries.
• Vasudev Kamath was awarded for his more expressive form of art.

Sahitya Akademi’s Translation Prize 2019 awarded to English translation of ‘Kusumabale’

• Sahitya Akademi’s Translation Prize for 2019 in the category of translation into English has been awarded to Kannada novel Kusumabale by Devanur Mahadeva, translated into English by Susan Daniel.

Key Points:

• Chandrashekar Kambar, President of Sahitya Akademi, announced a total of 23 awards in various Indian languages.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a copper plaque.

About the novel:

• Kusumbale was published in 1998, is a classic novel in Kannada Literature, written in a language typically spoken in Chamarajnagar district in Southern Karnataka, it combines prose, poetry, mythology of Dalit life.

Sreekar Prasad enters Limca Book of Records for editing films in 17 languages

• Sreekar Prasad, a veteran editor has entered the Limca Book of Records for ‘films edited in the most number of languages‘.
• Sreekar Prasad has received the certification from the Limca Records for editing films in 17 languages.
• The 17 languages includes: English, Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Odia, Sinhalese, Bengali, Assamese, Nepali, Pangchenpa, Karbi, Mishing, Bodo, and Marathi.
• The veteran video editor also holds eight National Awards including a Special Jury Award and his recent Bollywood projects includes ‘Saaho’ and ‘Super 30.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NITI Aayog, NASSCOM launched AI-based Module for students in Indian schools

• NITI Aayog, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), in collaboration with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), launched an AI-based Module rolled out for students in Indian schools on 27 February. The aim is to empower the youngest minds of the country with the latest technologies.
• Aim:
• The AI module aims to leverage the full potential of AIM’s Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL). It will also empower them to innovate and create valuable solutions benefiting societies at large.

AI-based Module:

• NITI Aayog is to introduce the Learn-It-Yourself module in all 5000 Atal Tinkering Labs, with over 2.5 million students having access to it.
• The hands-on AI module was designed by considering academic, co-scholastic, and other ATL programs at school.
• The Module was formulated to encourage young students to contribute to the journey of nation-building.
• It will be a catalyst for the youth to explore, ideate, and learn the latest technologies and build a generation of innovators at the grassroots level.
• The Module contains many activities, experiments, and videos that will enable students to work through and learn the various concepts of AI.

Extra Shots:

Atal Innovation Mission:

• Atal Innovation Mission is the Government of India’s flagship initiative. AIM’s main objective is to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. AIM establishes ATLs at the school level in all districts across India. AIM has selected 14,916 schools across India from 33 different states and union territories, for the establishment of ATLs.

NITI Aayog: The NITI Aayog is a policy think tank of the Government of India, established with the aim to achieve sustainable development goals with cooperative federalism by fostering the involvement of State Governments of India in the economic policy-making process using a bottom-up approach.

• Website: niti.gov.in
• Formed: 1 January 2015
• Jurisdiction: Government of India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairperson: Narendra Modi

NASSCOM: The National Association of Software and Services Companies is a trade association of Indian Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing industry. Established in 1988, NASSCOM is a non-profit organisation. NASSCOM initiated a program called ‘10000 Startups’ in 2013.

• Chairperson: Keshav R Murugesh
• Headquarters location: New Delhi
• Members: over 2,000 companies
• Founded: 1 March 1988
• Founders: Dewang Mehta, Nandan Nilekani
• Affiliations: National Institute for Smart Government, Data Security Council of India

OBITUARIES

Renowned Vedic Scholar Sudhakar Chaturvedi passed away

• Renowned Vedic Scholar Sudhakar Chaturvedi passed away in Bengaluru on 27 February. He was believed to be 122-years-old.

Extra Shots:

Sudhakar Chaturvedi:

• Sudhakar Chaturvedi was claimed to be born on 20 April 1897 in Kyatsandra near Tumkur as Sudhakar Krishna Rao. He moved to Bengaluru after his father became an inspector in the city with the education. The Gandhian was given the title Chaturvedi for his mastery and expertise over the four Vedas. He was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and the Arya Samaj movement. He wrote over 50 spiritual books in four languages. He spent his last few years in the teaching of Vedas to young enthusiasts.

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