National Affairs
Mumbai Airport Launches World’s Largest Temp-Controlled Facility
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) has launched the world’s largest airport-based temperature-controlled facility known as the ‘Export Cold Zone’ for processing and storage of agriculture and pharma products.
This can hold 700 tonnes of cargo at one time with a combined annual capacity of 5.25 lakh tones.
MIAL is a joint venture of the GVK led consortium (74%) and Airports Authority of India(26%)
Elections for 55 Rajya Sabha seats to be held on March 26
Biennial elections for the 55 Rajya Sabha seats from 17 states will be held on 26th March. Election Commission announced today that these seats are falling vacant in April this year due to retirement of Rajya Sabha members.
According to the schedule for the elections, the notification would be issued on March 6, the last date of filing of nominations would be March 13 and polling would be on March 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The votes would be counted at 5 p.m. on the same day.
Important points:
- The Vice President of India: Venkaiah Naidu is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
International Affairs
Myanmar President Win Myint to visit India
Myanmar President Win Myint, along with his wife, the First Lady, Daw Cho Cho, is to visit to India next from 26-29 February. President Myint’s visit after the invitation extended by President Ram Nath Kovind. The information was passed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
President Myint had visited India in 2019 to attend Narendra Modi’s second swearing-in ceremony as the Prime Minister.
About Myanmar:
- Capital – Naypyitaw
- Currency – Burmese kyat
State Affairs
Mathya Pradesh
MP becomes first state to launch unified vehicle registration card
Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to introduce the unified registration card and the second state to launch the unified driving license after Uttar Pradesh.
Chief Minister Kamal Nath distributed the unified cards, including vehicle registration and driving license, to six persons in a function held in Bhopal.
The unified smart cards for driving license and vehicle registration will each have a QR code that will help in verifying authenticity of the data printed on the cards.
About Mathya Pradesh:
- Governor – Lal Ji Tandon
- Chief Minister – Kamal Nath
- Capital – Bhopal
Himachal Pradesh
Losar festival was celebrated in Himachal Pradesh
Losar festival was celebrated at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The festival is celebrated on the 1st day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar also called Tibetan New Year.
Losar is a festival in Tibetan Buddhism.
About Himachal Pradesh:
- Capital- Shimla (summer capital), Dharamshala (winter capital).
- Chief Minister (CM)- Jai Ram Thakur.
- Governor- Bandaru Dattatreya.
MoU & Agreements
India and US sign defence deals worth 3 billion dollars
India and the United States yesterday finalized defence deals worth three billion dollars and signed three agreements, including in health and oil sectors.
Under a USD 2.6 billion deal, India will buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin for the Indian Navy. Another contract to acquire six AH-64E Apache helicopters for USD 800 million from aerospace giant Boeing has also been sealed.
Important Points:
- Union Minister of Defence: Raj Nath Singh.
Appointments & Resignations
Abhay Kumar Singh takes over as NHPC CMD
Abhay Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of NHPC Limited.
NHPC (Mini Ratna Company) is an Indian Hydropower generation company headquartered based in Hyderabad.
Singh took charge in place of Ratish Kumar who was holding additional charge of the post of CMD in addition to Director (Projects) in NHPC.
World’s Oldest govt leader Mahathir Mohamad (94) resigned as Malaysia’s PM
The world’s Oldest government leader Mahathir bin Mohamad (94) resigned as Malaysia’s Prime Minister (PM) on February 24,2020. His resignation has been accepted by Malaysia’s king Al-Sultan Abdullah of Pahang and also named him as the Interim prime minister of Malaysia until a successor is appointed.
About Malaysia:
- Capital- Kuala Lumpur
- Currency- Ringgit
Awards
Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2020 announced
The Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival was held on 20 February 2020 in Mumbai to Honour and Appreciate the creativity & talent of Indian Film and Television Industry.
List of Winners
- Best Film – Super 30
- Best Actor – Hrithik Roshan
- Most Promising Actor – Kiccha Sudeep
- Best Actor in Television Series – Dheeraj Dhoopar
- Best Actress in Television – Divyanka Tripathi
- Most Favourite Television Actor – Harshad Chopda
- Most Favourite Jodi in Television Series – Sriti Jha and Shabbir Ahluwalia (Kumkum Bhagya)
- Best Reality Show – Bigg Boss 13
- Best Television Series – Kumkum Bhagya
- Best Playback Singer Male – Armaan Malik
Dr N Kumar TNAU VC conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr N Kumar was awarded with ‘Lifetime Achievement Award” by ICAR- National Research Center for Banana, during the International Conference on Banana (ICB) 2020 held in Trichy, Tamil Nadu (TN).
The award is conferred to Dr Kumar in recognition of his specific contribution to the banana industry, by systematic banana breeding programmes which was started by TNAU in 1998.
Science & Technology
ISRO to launch GISAT-1 on 05 March
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F10) will launch Geo Imaging Satellite (GISAT-1) from the Second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch is tentatively scheduled at 1743 Hrs IST on March 05, 2020, subject to weather conditions.
About ISRO:
- Founded – 15 August 1969
- Director –K Sivan
Sports Affairs
Shri Kiren Rijiju inaugurates 1st Khelo India Winter Games in Leh, Ladakh
The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Kiren Rijiju has inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India Winter Games in the Union Territory of Ladakh at Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir.
The event, which is first of its kind in India, is being organised to promote winters ports in India and to popularise these games among the youth of the country.
About Ladakh:
- Governor –R.K. Mathur
India will host Commonwealth Shooting and Archery Championships in 2020
India will host the Commonwealth Shooting and Archery Championships in January 2020
The medals from the two events will be counted for ranking of competing nations at the Birmingham Games 2020 which is scheduled to be held from 27th July to 7th August 2022.
The two events will be held in Chandigarh.
ICC bans Oman’s Yousuf Al Balushi for seven years
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has banned an Oman player from all formats of cricket for 7 years. ICC banned Al Balushi because he tried to fix a match. However, his team has already qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup 2020.
Obituaries
Egypt’s former President Mohammed Hosni passed away
Egypt’s former President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak passed away. He ruled the country for 30 years. After almost three decades in power, Mubarak was forced to resign on February 11, 2011, following 18 days of protests around the country. Mubarak became Vice President of Egypt on 14 October 1981, and just eight days later, was sworn in as the President after Islamist militants assassinated his predecessor Anwar Sadat during a military parade.
About Egypt:
- President: Abdel Fattah El-Sissi.
- Currency: Egyptian pound;
- Egypt Capital: Cairo.
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