NATIONAL:
1. Nuclear Plant in North India
Why in news - North India’s first nuclear plant would be installed in Haryana’s Gorakhpur (Fatehabad district).
Key Points –
• It has two units of 700 MWe capacity each of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR).
• PHWR uses unenriched natural uranium as its fuel, heavy water (deuterium oxide D2O) as its coolant and neutron as a moderator.
2. India’s First ChatGPT ''Lexi"
Why in news - India's first ChatGPT-powered AI chatbot Lexi was launched.
Key Points –
• Launched by – Velocity (fintech company).
• Velocity has integrated ChatGPT with Velocity Insights (analytics tool).
3. 3rd Sagar Parikrama
Why in news - Parshottam Rupala launched Sagar Parikrama Phase-III from Hazira Port (Surat) in Gujarat.
Key Points –
• Aim - To disseminate information on various fisheries-related schemes and programs.
• It is celebrated in all coastal States/UTs from Gujarat to West Bengal including A&N and Lakshadweep Islands.
• It has started with the theme of “KRANTI se SHANTI” as Phase-I on 5th March 2022 from Mandvi, Gujarat.
4. Divyang Park
Why in news - Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone for the world's largest Divyang Park in Nagpur.
Key Points –
• Park name - Anubhuti Inclusive Park.
• The Central government had passed the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act on December 27, 2016.
• The Act become operational on April 19, 2017.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Ruchira Kamboj
Why in news - The UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD) has elected India’s Ruchira Kamboj as its chair for the 62nd session.
Key Points –
• Vice-Chairs –
A. Jon Ivanovski (North Macedonia)
B. Carla María Carlson (Dominican Republic)
C. Thomas Lammar (Luxembourg).
• CSocD is a functional commission of the ECOSOC of the United Nations.
• UN Commission for Social Development headquarter - New York.
• Copenhagen Declaration (World Summit for Social Development, 1995) - To establish a people-centred framework for social development.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Technotex 2023
Why in news – ‘Technotex 2023: Envisioning Indian Technical Textiles@ 2047’ is to be held in Mumbai.
Key Points –
• Organised by - Ministry of Textiles.
• It is India's forthcoming premier show on Technical Textiles.
• Technical textiles are used for a specific purpose like Medical, Defence, Industrial, Agriculture, Automotive, Building, Packaging textiles etc.
• There are 12 technical textile segments based on application e.g., -
A. Mobiltech - Airbags, Helmets.
B. Protech - Bulletproof jackets, fire retardant apparel.
C. Sportech - Sports net, artificial turf, parachute fabrics. Etc.
• National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM) is being implemented 4 years from 2020-21
• Indian Technical Textiles market is the 5th largest in the world (USD 22.5 billion in 2021-22).
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission 2023
Why in news – The mission was launched on Feb 19, 2023 from Pattipulam village, Tamil Nadu.
Key Points –
• It carried a hybrid rocket and 150 PicoSAT satellites.
• This is the first hybrid rocket.
• It was jointly launched by Martin Foundation, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India.
• PicoSAT - Artificial satellites with a wet mass between 0.1 and 1 kg.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2023
Why in news – The awards function was in Mumbai on February 20, 2023.
Key Points –
• List of winners –
A. Best Film – The Kashmir Files.
B. Film Of The Year – RRR.
C. Best Actor – Ranbir Kapoor (Brahmastra Part One: Shiva)
D. Best Actress – Alia Bhatt (Gangubhai Khatiawadi)
E. Most Promising Actor – Rishab Shetty (Kantara)
F. Television Series of The Year – Anupamaa.
G. Outstanding Contribution In The Film Industry: Rekha.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in the field of cinema.
• It is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals (M/o Information and Broadcasting).
About Dadasaheb Phalke –
• Full name - Dhundiraj Govind Phalke.
• Indian producer-director-screenwriter.
• Known as "the Father of Indian cinema".
• His debut film, Raja Harishchandra, was the first Indian movie released in 1913 and is now known as India's first full-length feature film.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Mother Language Day 2023
Why in news – The day is observed on 21 February, every year across the globe.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education”.
• Feb 21, 1952 - Students of the University of Dhaka launched a nationwide protest against the imposition of Urdu on the then East Pakistan.
• In recognition of the Bengali people’s struggle for their language and culture, UNESCO announced (1999) February 21 as International Mother Language Day.
• Recently, M/o Home Affairs (MHA) has completed the Mother Tongue Survey of India (MTSI) with field videography of the country’s 576 languages.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Neal Mohan
Why in news – Indian-American executive Neal Mohan has been appointed as the new CEO of YouTube.
Key Points –
• Since 2015, Neal Mohan has held the position of chief product officer at YouTube.
• Mohan would replace Susan Wojcicki.
• Other Indian-origin tech chiefs
A. Alphabet - Sundar Pichai
B. Microsoft - Satya Nadella
C. IBM - Arvind Krishna
D. Adobe - Shantanu Narayen.
2. BVR Subrahmanyam
Why in news - Former IAS officer BVR Subrahmanyam was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog.
Key Points –
• He replaced Parameswaran Iyer. (Iyer has been named the Executive Director of the World Bank).
• Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog - Suman Bery.
• Chairman of NITI Aayog - Prime Minister (Currently – Narendra Modi).
• The first meeting of NITI Aayog (est - Jan 1, 2015) was chaired by PM Modi on February 8, 2015.
SPORTS:
1. Ranji Trophy
Why in news - Saurashtra thrashed West Bengal to win their second Ranji Trophy title.
Key Points –
• Saurashtra captain - Jaydev Unadkat.
• Venue – Kolkata.
• Saurashtra defeated Bengal by nine wickets.
BIHAR:
1. Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal
Why in news - Upendra Kushwaha quit the Janata Dal (United) and launched a new political outfit, the Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal.
Key Points –
• Nearly two years ago he merged the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) with JD(U).
• The alliance was first formed in 1993 at the Kurmi Chetna Rally.
• Earlier, he left the party twice before in 2007 and 2013.
• He had launched the RLSP in 2013.
2. Gross Domestic Climate Risk
Why in news - The report was published by Cross Dependency Initiative (XDI).
Key Points –
• Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are among the world's top 50 regions at risk of damage due to climate change hazards.
• XDI calculated the physical climate risk to the built environment in over 2,600 states and provinces around the world in 2050.
• Indian states ranks –
A. Bihar (22nd)
B. Uttar Pradesh (25th)
C. Assam (28th).
3. Khelo India Senior National Women's Weightlifting Championship
Why in news - Patna's Khushi Kumari bagged the gold medal in the 55 kg weight category for Bihar.
Key Points –
• She has achieved this feat by lifting a total of 155 kg.
POINTERS:
• Who has been honoured with the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Contribution Award 2022 - Sunil Krishnan.
• Which bank has launched India's first mobile banking application with 3 V's Voice, Visual vernacular-enabled features - Ujjivan Small Finance Bank.
• Which company has made the first super magnet for testing in a nuclear plant - Tokamak Energy.
• Who has created the official emblem of King Charles III's coronation - Jony Ive.
• Who has inaugurated the new campus of Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy at Marol in Mumbai - Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Who has inaugurated the "Department of Integrative Medicine" in Safdarjung Hospital - Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal.
• Recently, the World Bank has announced how many billion dollars in aid for earthquake affected Turkey - 1.78 billion dollars.
• Who has recently been honoured with the 'Maharashtra Bhushan Award' - Appasaheb Dharmadhikari.
• Which country's researchers have recently discovered a Black Galaxy or invisible galaxy – Italy.
• Which Indian poet-diplomat has been elected as the Corresponding Member of the 'Literary Academy of Brazil’ - Abhay K.