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Current Affairs Today – 31st January and 1st February 2021

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

Martyrs Day or Shaheed Diwas – Observed on Jan 30

The day marks the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
On this day in 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse in the compound of Birla House after one of his routine multi-faith prayer meetings.
The nation pays homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his 73rd death anniversary.
Martyrs’ Day is an annual day observed by nations to salute the martyrdom of soldiers who lost their lives defending the sovereignty of the nation.

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day Observed On 30 January

January 30, 2021 will mark the second annual World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day.
Theme of 2021 is Face NTDs: End the Neglect
The first World NTD Day was held on 30 January 2020
This day highlighting the global community’s commitment to ending Neglected Tropical Diseases that cause immeasurable suffering among the world’s most marginalized communities.
India joins the world to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases.
On this day the Qutub Minar will be lit up along with other landmarks across the world.
NTDs include a range of conditions that can blind, disfigure, or even disable people.

World Leprosy Day 2021 – Jan 31

World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January.
The day was chosen by French humanitarian Raoul Follereau in 1953 to coincide with the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s death which happened on the last Sunday of January 1948.
In 2021 World Leprosy Day is Observed 31 January 2021.
It is celebrated with the aim of raising awareness and knowledge about leprosy, the fact that it can be cured, and changing attitudes that stigmatise and marginalise people affected by the disease.
Theme of 2021 is Beat Leprosy, End Stigma and advocate for Mental Wellbeing

About Leprosy :

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.
Leprosy is known to occur at all ages ranging from early infancy to very old age. Leprosy is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disability.
Leprosy is likely transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Govt. nods release of Rs 1,751 cr to Assam, Arunachal, Odisha, Telangana & UP

The High-Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah approved Additional Central Assistance of over one thousand seven hundred 51 crore rupees under the National Disaster Response Fund, NDRF to five states, which were affected by floods, landslides during South-West Monsoon-2020 and hailstorm during Rabi 2019-20.
While approving the Additional Central Assistance, Mr Shah said, the Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resolved to help people of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh who braved these natural disasters.

External affairs Minister discuss his US counterpart

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has had a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.
Dr Jaishankar warmly congratulated Secretary Blinken on his appointment and wished him success in his new responsibilities.
Both leaders expressed their commitment to consolidate and expand the multi-faceted strategic partnership.
They appreciated the robust defence and security ties, growing economic engagement, productive health-care collaboration and strong people-to-people linkages as its important pillars.

India’s GDP – 11 per cent next fiscal – V-Shaped recovery

The government has said that the country is witnessing a V-Shaped Economic Recovery which is a testimony to the resilience and intrinsic strength of its economy.
It happened due to Mega Vaccination Drive, Robust Recovery in the Services Sector and Robust Growth in Consumption and Investment.
The Economic Survey tabled in the Parliament projects India’s real GDP to record an 11 per cent growth in Financial Year 2021-22 and nominal GDP to grow by 15.4 per cent, the highest since independence.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India and World Bank sign 500 million dollar Programme

The Government of India and the World Bank signed a 500-million US dollar Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Programme (STARS) to improve the quality and governance of school education in six Indian states.
These include Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
Some 250 million students (between the age of six and 17) in 1.5 million schools and over 10 million teachers will benefit from the programme.
The STARS programme builds on the long partnership between India and the World Bank (since 1994), for strengthening public school education and to support the country’s goal of providing Education for All.
Prior to STARS, the Bank had provided a total assistance of more than three billion US dollars towards this goal.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Farooq Khan reviews functioning of One-Stop-Centres for women

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Adviser to Lieutenant Governor Farooq Khan reviewed the functioning of One-Stop-Centres for women in the UT during a meeting at Civil Secretariat, Jammu.
The Mission Director of Integrated Child Protection Services (ICPS) gave a detailed powerpoint presentation and apprised the Adviser about the working of the centres as well difficulties being faced by them while performing their duties.
Aim: To help the women affected by violence in private and public spaces, within the family, community or at the workplace.
Main objective of One-Stop-Centres: To facilitate immediate, emergency and non-emergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, psychological and counseling support under one roof to fight against any forms of violence against women.

About J&K:

Capital: Jammu(winter) , Srinagar(summer)
Lieutenant governor: Manoj Sinha

J&K: Over 22 lakh people applied for golden card

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, over 22 lakh people have so far applied for the golden card under newly launched Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) SEHAT scheme in various districts across the Union Territory.
Before the launching of SEHAT scheme, only people in the deprived category under the socio-economic census could have availed the facility, however, under SEHAT scheme every J&K resident is being covered under Rs 5 lakh health insurance.

India’s First ‘Gender Park’ inaugurated in Kozhikode, Kerala

The Kerala government’s Gender Park in Kozhikode will become functional from next month, coinciding with the second edition of the International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE-II).
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the February 11-13 IGCE-II and the Gender Park.
He will also lay the foundation of the International Women’s Trade and Research Centre (IWTRC) that envisages a secure and sustained ecosystem for women entrepreneurs and a space for them to market products.
Along with this Park, a Gender Museum, Gender Library, Convention Centre and an Amphitheatre will also be launched at the event.

About the Gender Park :

It is the first space of its kind in the world.
Currently working under the Department of Women and Child Development, it aims to become a premier convergence point for gender-related activities,” the website mentions.
Built with an aim to establish an ecosystem for women entrepreneurs, the Gender Park will also see the launch of a Gender museum, Gender library, a convention centre and an amphitheatre which, according to KK Shailaja, will form the first phase of the park.
The overall cost of establishing the park is around Rs 300 crore. spread over 24 acre land.

About Kerala :

CM : Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor : Arif Mohammad Khan
Capital : Thiruvananthapuram

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

Students in Karnataka’s Hubballi made robot to help in banking services

Engineering college students in Hubballi have come up with ‘Maya’,a robot that has been programmed to serve in banks and speaks in many regional languages.
The students of the Automation and Robotics department of KLE Technological University have spent nearly eight months and spent Rs 5 lakh to develop the robot.
It was developed keeping banking sectors in mind and programmed with all banking activities such as advising the customers on opening accounts, sending them to designated counters for queries.
With the help of artificial intelligence, it recognises customers’ faces and responds to them by using a chatbot.
After the banking hours, it automatically goes to the docking yard and charges its batteries without the help of any human being.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Economic Survey: India to become Fastest Growing Economy in next 2-years reported by IMF

The Union Government said that the country’s V-Shaped Economic Recovery happened due to Mega Vaccination Drive, Robust Recovery in the Services Sector and Robust Growth in Consumption and Investment.
Chief Economic Adviser K. Subramanian said, V-Shaped Recovery is due to Resurgence in High Frequency Indicators Such as Power Demand, Rail Freight, E-Way Bills, GST Collection and Steel Consumption.
The Economic Survey said, India is to become the Fastest Growing Economy in next two years as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
India is to have a Current Account Surplus of two per cent of GDP in financial year 2021, a historic high after 17 years.

Microsoft launches Taj Mahal inspired engineering hub in Noida

Microsoft announced the launch of its new India Development Center (IDC) facility at NCR that will serve as a premier hub for driving cutting-edge engineering and innovation.
IDC NCR is Microsoft’s third Development Center in India after Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
The IDC NCR facility will collaborate with Microsoft teams globally to build products and services for driving digital innovation.
The center will provide opportunities for engineering talent in the areas of Business & Productivity tools, AI, Cloud & Enterprise, Core Services, and the new Gaming division.
The IDC NCR workspace architecture is inspired by the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world.
The IDC in NCR will collaborate with Microsoft teams worldwide to design and create products that drive digital innovations.

About Microsoft :

CEO : Satya Nadella
Founded : 4 April 1975, US
Founder : Bill Gates, Paul Allen
Managing Director : Rajiv Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

AR Rahman and social activist from Saidapet Hari Krishnan win awards for being Good Samaritans

Music composer AR Rahman and social activist from Saidapet Hari Krishnan were among the 14 people who were presented the fourth edition of the Alert Being Awards 2020 by the NGO ALERT, for their Good Samaritan work.
Hari Krishnan had been appointed by the Greater Chennai Corporation as a district volunteer head for Covid-19 relief work.

50th Kerala State Film Awards conferred

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the 2019 Kerala State Film Awards and the J C Daniel Award at a function here.
Veteran filmmaker Hariharan, who was conferred with the J C Daniel Award, is an artist who had travelled with cinema for about half a century and made films which went on to become milestones in the annals of Malayalam tinsel town, he said.
Pinarayi Vijayan released the stamp published in connection with the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
Culture Minister A K Balan presided.

2021 Padma Awards: Odisha’s octogenarian doctor Dr Krishna Mohan Pathi

Dr Pathi is a noted orthopaedic surgeon who is known for his landmark work in tribal districts of the State.
Octogenarian Dr Krishna Mohan Pathi goes about giving free treatment to poor patients on a daily basis in a village of Ganjam district.
For him, age is just a number as the 82-year-old doctor refuses to give up on helping the needy, a trait which has earned him the Padma Shri award this year.

Odisha teacher scores a century in his age and 2021 Padma Awards

Fondly known as ‘Nanda Mastre’, centenarian Nanda Prusty of Kantira in Sukinda block had never imagined he would be bestowed the coveted Padma Shri award for his service to the society.
A class VII pass-out, Prusty who turned 100 this year, has been teaching children as well as senior citizens of his village for the last seven decades.
His mission is to eradicate illiteracy from his village.

Padma Awards: Divine poetess Purnamasi Jani from Odisha’s Kandhamal

Purnamasi Jani has over a lakh poems and devotional songs to her credit, but Purnamasi Jani has never been to a school.
And the 76-year-old tribal poetess, popularly known as Tadisaru Bai in the region, has never repeated any of her poems or songs.
Born in Charipada village under Khajuripada block of Kandhamal district, Purnamasi was married at a young age.
5,000 of her songs and poems have been recorded by litterateurs and literary societies.
Her biography was subsequently written by Dr Surendranath Mohanty and a teacher Duryodhan Pradhan compiled all her songs.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : RANKING

India ranks 10th in Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index

India ranked 10th out of 11 Asia Pacific countries in a newly-launched health index to measure the progress towards personalised healthcare.
Overall, Singapore has topped the index. It is followed by Taiwan (2nd), Japan (3rd) and Australia (4th).

About EIU Report :

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index” measures the readiness of 11 health systems across the region–Australia, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and New Zealand–in adopting personalised healthcare, enabling the right care to be tailored to the right person at the right time.
The ‘Personalised Health Index’ measures performance against 27 different indicators of personalised health across four categories called Vital Signs.
These include Policy Context, Health Information, Personalised Technologies and Health Services.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCHEMES

Commerce Ministry notifies Rs 945 crore seed fund Scheme for startups

The government has approved the Rs 945-crore Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) for the period 2021-25 to offer early-stage funding to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization.
It is implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
The Rs 945 crore Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) will be operational from April 1, 2021, to 2025 as the government looks to boost the ecosystem, providing the crucial capital for young companies.
The government announced that Startup India Seed Fund Scheme will provide financial assistance to startups that have been recognised by the DPIIT and incorporated not more than two years ago at the time of application.
The Startup India Seed Fund Scheme is sector-agnostic and will have a central common application on Startup India portal for startups and incubators on an ongoing basis.
Earlier, on January 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the launch of this Rs 1,000-crore ‘Startup India Seed Fund’ to support startups and help budding entrepreneurs pursue innovative ideas.

About DPIIT :

Founded : 1995
Comes Under Ministry of Commerce and Industry

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS

R S Sharma appointed as new CEO of Ayushman Bharat Scheme

The National Health Authority (NHA) has appointed RS Sharma as the new Chief Executive to head its health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana a flagship programme of the government.
He will be replacing Indu Bhushan whose three years term comes to an end.
Indu Bhushan, who is serving as the Chief Executive of the Ayushman Scheme since its inception in 2018.

About Sharma :

Sharma, the former Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), also heads the Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management to combat Covid-19, and is a member, National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration of Covid-19.
He will take charge of the NHA from February 1, and will ensure a smooth rollout of the National Digital Health Mission on data privacy.

About NHA :

The National Health Authority or the NHA is responsible for implementing India’s flagship public health insurance/assurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. NHA has been set-up to implement the PM-JAY at the national level.
Founded : 2018

Prakash Javadekar Launches 2021 as Indo-French Year of the Environment

Minister for Environment,Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar and Ms Barbara Pompili, the French Minister for Ecological Transition launched the Indo-French Year of the Environment in New Delhi.
The basic objective is to strengthen Indo-French cooperation in sustainable development, increase the effectiveness of actions in favor of global environment protection and give them greater visibility.
The Indo-French Year of the Environment over the period 2021-2022 would be based on five main themes: environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable urban development, and the development of renewable energies and energy efficiency.
It is also a platform for engaging in discussions on critical areas of collaboration relating to the environment and allied areas.
From the French side, it will be held under the aegis of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs with the support of the Embassy of France in Delhi and its partners.
From the Indian side, it will be coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) along with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and other concerned Ministries/Departments/Organisations.
A joint screening committee will also be set up to finalise the calendar of the events for the Indo-French Year of the Environment.

About France :

Capital : Paris
President : Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister : Jean Castex
Currency : Euro

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

BCCI : Ranji Trophy cancelled for the first time in 87 years

The BCCI will not be conducting its premier first-class domestic tournament Ranji Trophy for the first time in 87 years as the parent body opted for the Vijay Hazare Trophy .
The BCCI will also host the U-19 National One Day tournament for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Women’s national 50-over tournament as per a letter sent by BCCI secretary Jay Shah to the state units.

About BCCI :

President : Sourav Ganguly
Secretary : Jay Shah
Headquarters : Mumbai
Founded : December 1928

Jay Shah takes over as Asian Cricket Council President

BCCI secretary Jay Shah was unanimously elected as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) at its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The 32-year-old replaces Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Najmul Hasan Papon.
Pakistan was to originally host the tournament but the tournament is now expected to be held in either Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.

About ACC :

CEO : Sridhar Balakrishnan
Headquarters : Mumbai
Founded : 1 August 1936
The ACC is Asia’s regional administrative body and it currently consists of 24 member associations.
ACC is responsible for organizing the Asia Cup tournaments.
The 2020 edition of the Asia Cup was postponed to June this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen, who warned of ozone hole, dies at 87

The man most responsible for that moniker, Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen, died. He was 87.
Crutzen was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1995 together with American chemist F. Sherwood Rowland and Mexican chemist Mario J. Molina for discovering the risk to the ozone layer
The Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany, where Crutzen was the director of atmospheric chemistry from 1980 until his retirement in 2000.
He was known for his work on the ozone layer and climate change and for popularizing the term ‘Anthropocene’ to describe a proposed new era when human actions have a drastic effect on the Earth.

Daily CA On Jan 30 :

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Minimum Support Price (MSP) of copra at Rs 10,335 per quintal for 2021 season which is an increase of Rs 375 over 2020 rates.
A conservation paradigm for marine mega fauna and marine turtles, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has released ‘Marine MegaFauna Stranding Guidelines’ and ‘National Marine Turtle Action Plan’ in New Delhi.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned on Jan 26 after a key coalition ally pulled his party’s support over the prime minister’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, setting the stage for consultations this week to determine if he can form a third government.
Uttar Pradesh government will establish the first leather park of the country in Kanpur district. The park is expected to provide employment to 50 thousand people directly and more than 1 lakh 50 thousand people indirectly.
The Karnataka government launched a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country to automatically select beneficiaries for old-age pensions that will be paid through the direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey, that details the state of the economy ahead of the government’s budget for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2021.
India’s rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in corruption perception index (CPI) in 2020.
India has ranked at 86th position among 98 countries in the new Coronavirus Performance Index. It was Released by Australia-based Lowy Institute.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s four-year-old telecom venture Reliance Jio has been ranked the fifth strongest brand globally behind the likes of Ferrari and Coca-Cola.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on January 27, 2021 announced the ‘ICC Player of the Month’ awards to recognise the best performances of male and female cricketers across all three forms of international cricket.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Swaminathan Janakiraman as Managing Director of State Bank of India, the country’s largest commercial bank.
Lieutenant General Chandi Prasad Mohanty on February 1, 2021, will take over as the next vice-chief of Army Staff.
Bharti AXA General Insurance has launched its new app ‘Krishi Sakha’ to cater to the specific needs of the farmers in the country and guide them in adopting best farming practices and enhancing productivity.
2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, set to be held in India, has been confirmed by the continental governing body. The marquee women’s football event will start on January 20, 2022, and will finish on February 6, 2022.
Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman, one of the most decorated actors in television history, best known for playing nosy neighbor Phyllis on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” died. She was 94.

Daily CA On Jan 31 & Feb 01 :

The day marks the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. On this day in 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse in the compound of Birla House after one of his routine multi-faith prayer meetings.
January 30, 2021 will mark the second annual World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day. Theme of 2021 is Face NTDs: End the Neglect. The first World NTD Day was held on 30 January 2020
World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January. The day was chosen by French humanitarian Raoul Follereau in 1953 to coincide with the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s death which happened on the last Sunday of January 1948.
The High-Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah approved Additional Central Assistance of over one thousand seven hundred 51 crore rupees under the National Disaster Response Fund, NDRF to five states.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has had a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.
The government has said that the country is witnessing a V-Shaped Economic Recovery which is a testimony to the resilience and intrinsic strength of its economy.
The Government of India and the World Bank signed a 500-million US dollar Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Programme (STARS) to improve the quality and governance of school education in six Indian states.
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Adviser to Lieutenant Governor Farooq Khan reviewed the functioning of One-Stop-Centres for women in the UT during a meeting at Civil Secretariat, Jammu.
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, over 22 lakh people have so far applied for the golden card under newly launched Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY) SEHAT scheme in various districts across the Union Territory.
The Kerala government’s Gender Park in Kozhikode will become functional from next month, coinciding with the second edition of the International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE-II).
Engineering college students in Hubballi have come up with ‘Maya’,a robot that has been programmed to serve in banks and speaks in many regional languages.
In Economic Survey India to become Fastest Growing Economy in next 2-years reported by IMF
Microsoft announced the launch of its new India Development Center (IDC) facility at NCR that will serve as a premier hub for driving cutting-edge engineering and innovation.
Music composer AR Rahman and social activist from Saidapet Hari Krishnan were among the 14 people who were presented the fourth edition of the Alert Being Awards 2020 by the NGO ALERT, for their Good Samaritan work.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the 2019 Kerala State Film Awards and the J C Daniel Award at a function here.
Dr Pathi is a noted orthopaedic surgeon who is known for his landmark work in tribal districts of the State.
Fondly known as ‘Nanda Mastre’, centenarian Nanda Prusty of Kantira in Sukinda block had never imagined he would be bestowed the coveted Padma Shri award for his service to the society.
Purnamasi Jani has over a lakh poems and devotional songs to her credit, but Purnamasi Jani has never been to a school.
India ranked 10th out of 11 Asia Pacific countries in a newly-launched health index to measure the progress towards personalised healthcare.
The government has approved the Rs 945-crore Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) for the period 2021-25 to offer early-stage funding to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization.
The National Health Authority (NHA) has appointed RS Sharma as the new Chief Executive to head its health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat or Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a flagship programme of the government.
Minister for Environment,Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar and Ms Barbara Pompili, the French Minister for Ecological Transition launched the Indo-French Year of the Environment in New Delhi.
The BCCI will not be conducting its premier first-class domestic tournament Ranji Trophy for the first time in 87 years as the parent body opted for the Vijay Hazare Trophy .
BCCI secretary Jay Shah was unanimously elected as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) at its Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The man most responsible for that moniker, Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen, died. He was 87.