National Affairs
Centre released Rs 19,950 crore as GST compensation to states, Union Territories
The Central Government has released 19,950 crore rupees as GST compensation to states. With this release of GST compensation, the Central Government has released a total of over 1.20 lakh crore rupees towards GST compensation to the states during current fiscal.
In the financial year 2018-19, an amount of over 95 thousand crore rupees was collected as GST compensation cess of which over 69 thousand crore rupees was released to the States and Union Territories as GST compensation.
Important Points:
- GST Implemented on – 1st July 2017
Nritya Gopal Das elected as the president of Ram Mandir Trust
Mahant Nritya Gopal Das has been elected as the president of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust along with Champat Rai who would serve as the general secretary of the trust. New Delhi hosted the first meeting of the Ram Mandir Trust to oversee the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.
About Uttar Pradesh:
- Chief Minister : Yogi Adityanath,
- Governor: Anandiben Patel.
Vice President inaugurated four-day Indian Students’ Parliament in New Delhi
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated the four-day Indian Students’ Parliament in New Delhi.Mr Naidu expressed happiness that thousands of youngsters are taking active interest in politics and various issues concerning the nation.
He said, politics is a vehicle for serving the people and bringing about the desired socio-economic change.
International Affairs
“Bezos Earth Fund” launched by Jeff Bezos to combat climate change
The “Bezos Earth Fund” has been launched by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The fund will aim to to help preserve and protect the natural world against the climate change. He has committed to contribute $10 billion through the fund.
About Amazon:
- CEO: Jeff Bezos.
- Amazon was established on 5th July 1994.
- Headquarters: Washington, USA.
Dr S. Jaishankar inaugurates the India pavilion at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival
External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar inaugurated the India Pavilion at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) 2020 on 20th February 2020.
The Minister also unveiled the poster for the 51st edition of India International Film Festival to be celebrated in Goa this year, along with its booklet. Subsequently, the delegation released Pickle Magazine at the pavilion.
About Germany:
- Capital- Berlin
- Currency- Euro
State Affairs
Uttarakhand
Ganga Kayak Festival celebrated in Uttarakhand
8th edition of the “Ganga Kayak festival” was inaugurated by MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) Vinod Kandari in Devprayag, Uttarakhand. The festival was celebrated for 3 days from feb.17, 2020 to feb. 19, 2020.
The festival was organized by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and The Adventure Sports Society witnessed participation of 45 males and 6 women athletes from Russia, Australia and Nepal.
About Uttarakhand:
- Capital- Dehradun.
- Chief Minister (CM)- Trivendra Singh Rawat.
- Governor- Baby Rani Maurya.
Tripura
Tripura Tea Board organizzes ‘Run for India Tea’ event
Tripura hosts the “Run for India Tea” which was organized in collaboration by Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) and Tea Board of India. The event aims to further promote and popularise Tripura tea alongside India tea and to boost the tea industry in the state. The event was followed by a colourful tableau procession which featured the participation of large number of tea workers wearing traditional dresses.
About Tripura:
- Chief Minister: Biplab Kumar Deb.
- Governor: Ramesh Bais.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu govt announced former CM Jayalalitha’s birth anniversary as ‘State Girl Child Protection Day’ on Feb 24
According to the Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister ,K. Palanisamy the state government will celebrate the birth anniversary of former chief minister Jayalalithaa on February 24 as ‘State Girl Child Protection Day’ in honor of the passion with which she worked for the well-being of children, especially girls.
TN CM announces 5 schemes for children living in government-run homes. Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami has also announced 5 schemes for children living in government-run homes.
About Tamil Nadu:
- Capital– Chennai
- Governor– Banwarilal Purohit
Ranks & Reports
India ranks 77th on sustainability, 131st in child flourishing index rankings: UN report
According to the report, “A future for the world’s children? A WHO–UNICEF–Lancet Commission” commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The Lancet medical journal, India ranks 77th in terms of Sustainability Index and 131st in the Flourishing Index of Children’s Survival, health,education and Well-being.
The Sustainability Index ranks countries on excess carbon emissions compared with the 2030 target. This provides a convenient and available proxy for a country’s contribution to sustainability in future.
| Rank | Child flourishing Index | Sustainability Index |
| 1 | Norway | Burundi |
| 2 | Republic of Korea | Chad |
| 3 | Netherlands | Somalia |
| 178 | Somalia | Kuwait |
| 179 | Chad | Trinidad and Tobago |
| 180 | Central African Republic | Qatar |
About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
- Executive Director– Henrietta H. Fore
- Headquarters– New York City, USA
About WHO:
- Director-General– Tedros Adhanom
- Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Sports Affairs
Sindhu wins ESPN’s Female Sportsperson of the Year award
World champion shuttler P V Sindhu has won the ESPN’s ‘Female Sportsperson of the Year’ award for a third consecutive time.
Young shooter Saurabh Chaudhary bagged the honour in the male category.
Sprinter Dutee Chand became the first winners of the ‘Courage’ award for being inspirational both on and off the field.
India to host AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022
India to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup in 2022, as per the announcement made by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Trans Stadia Arena in Ahmedabad and Fatorda Stadium in Goa have been selected to host matches.
About AIFF:
- Founded-23 June 1937.
- President- Praful Patel.
- Headquarters- Dwarka, Delhi.
Books & Authors
Prakash Javadekar releases reference annuals ‘Bharat 2020’ & ‘India 2020’
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar released the Reference Annual, India 2020 and Bharat 2020 in New Delhi. E-version of the year books were also released on this occasion.
The book consists of the information about India and its developments, progress and achievements of various Government Ministries, Departments and Organisations during the year 2019.
Obituaries
Computer scientist Larry Tesler passes away
An icon of early computing ‘Larry Tesler’ (invented ‘cut, copy and paste’) passed away.
Mr Tesler was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1945, and studied at Stanford University in California.
Mr Tesler (74-years) started working in Silicon Valley in the early 1960s, at a time when computers were inaccessible to the vast majority of people.
Important Days
World Day of Social Justice being observed on 20th February
The United Nations (UN) World Day of Social Justice is annually observed on 20th February to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication.
It also focuses on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration.
The theme for 2020 is “Closing the Inequalities Gap to Achieve Social Justice”.
The united nation has approved on 26th November 2007 as the World Day of Social Jusice.
International Mother Language Day observed on 21st February
International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote multilingualism.
UNESCO chooses a theme for each International Mother Language Day, and sponsors related events at its Paris headquarters.
Highlighting the importance of preserving, protecting and promoting Indian languages, the Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu spoke in 22 languages at an event to mark International Mother Language Day in New Delhi. He urged all the citizens to take a pledge to promote mother tongue and also learn other languages.
About UNESCO:
- Headquarters – Paris, France
- Director-General – Audrey Azoulay
- Founded – 6 November 1945
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