NATIONAL:
1. SII’s Centre of Excellence (COE)
Why in news - Serum Institute of India (SII) has announced the establishment of Centre of Excellence at Hyderabad.
Key Points –
• CoE name - Dr Cyrus Poonawalla Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness.
• It would be located at Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad.
• SII is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer.
2. 'Shiv Srishti' Theme Park
Why in news - Amit Shah inaugurated the first phase of 'Shiv Srishti' theme park at Pune (Ambe village) Maharashtra.
Key Points –
• It is based on the life of Shivaji Maharaj.
• In 1771, under the leadership of Maharaj ji Scindia, captured Delhi and extended his empire from Attock to Cuttack.
• Aurangzeb offered Shivaji the title of Raja.
• Shivaji was taken to Aurangzeb’s court in Agra in 1666 to put under house arrest.
• In 1674, Shivaji crowned himself Chhatrapati, officially creating an independent Maratha kingdom.
3. Ban on Bike Taxi Services
Why in news - Delhi Transport Department has asked the bike taxi services of Ola, Uber and Rapido to stop their services forthwith.
Key Points –
• The ban is applicable only on motorcycles.
• Reason - Two-wheelers cannot engage in commercial activity of transporting passengers with non-commercial numbers.
• Violation of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. New Murabba (Mukaab)
Why in news - Saudi Arabia aims to develop the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh called New Murabba.
Key Points –
• To be built by - New Murabba Development Company.
• It would be large enough to hold 20 Empire State Buildings.
• Mukaab (means cube) dimension - 400 meters in height, 400 meters in width, and 400 meters in length.
• It would be the largest indoor city in the world.
• It would be the centrepiece of the futuristic Neom site (2017) near the Gulf of Aqaba.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. REAIM 2023
Why in news - The first global summit on responsible AI in the military domain, 'REAIM 2023' was held in Hague, Netherlands.
Key Points –
• Co-host - Republic of Korea.
• Themes:
• Mythbusting AI: Breaking Down the Characteristics of AI
• Responsible deployment and use of AI
• Governance frameworks.
• Call on Action - to build common standards to mitigate risks arising from the use of AI.
• Slaughterbots (Lethal Autonomous Weapons) - Killer micro-robots armed with explosives, AI, and facial recognition to kill human targets without human intervention.
• India was not a participant in the summit.
• Hague - "International city of peace and justice".
2. 18th UIC World Security Congress
Why in news - The 18th UIC World Security Congress held in Jaipur, India.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Railway Security Strategy: Responses and Vision for Future”.
• Jointly organized by - International Union of Railways (UIC), Paris and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
• India (Sanjay Chander) is the Chairman of UIC from July 2022 to July 2024.
• Previously, in 2006 and 2015, RPF India successfully organized and hosted the International UIC World Security Congress in New Delhi.
• UIC (1922) Headquarters – Paris.
ECONOMY:
1. UPI and PayNow Integration
Why in news - India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was integrated with Singapore’s PayNow on February 21, 2023.
Key Points –
• Benefit - Faster and more transparent remittances between the two countries.
• PayNow is the equivalent of UPI in Singapore.
• As per RBI Remittance Survey, 2021, share of Singapore stood at 5.7% in 2020-21.
• Previously, NIPL(International NPCI) partnered with the Paris-based Worldline Payments to enable UPI and RuPay payment mechanisms.
• NIPL had also partnered with NEOPAY in April 2022 for acceptance of UPI across UAE.
• On February 14, 2023, EbixCash Limited announced the launch of the UPI pilot project for foreign nationals visiting India during the G20 summit.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Nat Geo Photography Contest
Why in news - Karthik Subramaniam has won the prestigious National Geographic’s “Pictures of The Year” award.
Key Points –
• Photograph title - “Dance of the Eagles”.
• Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve – Alaska, USA.
2. Jnanappana Award 2023
Why in news - Noted writer and teacher V Madhusoodanan Nair has been selected for Jnanappana award 2023.
Key Points –
• Jnanappana is a devotional poem written by the 16th century Malayalam poet Poonthanam Namboothir.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Thinking Day 2023
Why in news - The day is observed on February 22 every year by people across the globe.
Key Points –
• It celebrates friendship, sisterhood, and empowerment.
• Theme - "Our World, Our Thriving Future: The environment and global poverty".
SECURITY:
1. Exercise Dustlik
Why in news - The 4th edition of India-Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise Dustlik held at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
Key Points –
• The exercise is biennial i.e., conducted once in two years.
• The Gissar Air Base of Uzbekistan is jointly operated by Indian Air Force and Tajik Air Force.
• The Army of Uzbekistan is one of the largest in Central Asia.
2. KTF and JKGF as Terrorist Organisations
Why in news - The Centre has notified Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF) as terrorist organisations.
Key Points –
• It also notified Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda as a “terrorist”.
• Under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
• Rinda is associated with terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) based in Lahore, Pakistan.
• Now there are 54 designated terrorists under the IVth Schedule of the UAPA.
FESTIVALS:
1. 49th International Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023
Why in news - The 7-day dance festival commenced at Khajuraho temple on Feb 20, 2023.
Key Points –
About Temples of Khajuraho –
• Example of the Nagara style of temples.
• First mention of Khajuraho and its temples - Accounts of Abu Rahyan al Biruni ( 1022 CE) and Ibn Batuta (1335 CE).
• Carvings reflect the four goals of life in Hinduism, viz, dharma, kama, artha, moksha.
• Built by the Chandelas.
• Built of light-coloured sandstone imported from the quarries of Panna, from the east bank of the Kane River.
• Erotic imagery is very common in the Temples of Khajuraho. E.g., Kandariya Mahadeva and Vishwanath Temple.
• A few temples at Khajuraho are of the Panchayatana type. i.e., 4 shrines dedicated to the divinities and one dedicated to the vahana (vehicle) of the principal deity.
• These Temples got the status of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in 1986.
SPORTS:
1. Fastest 25,000 International Runs
Why in news - Virat Kohli has completed 25,000 runs in international cricket.
Key Points –
• He is the fastest to achieve the landmark.
• He took 549 innings, 28 less than second-placed Sachin Tendulkar.
• Fastest to 25000 international runs (by innings)
A. 549 – Virat Kohli
B. 577 – Sachin Tendulkar
C. 588 – Ricky Ponting.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Liquor Ban Survey Report
Why in news - The survey has been jointly done by Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (Jeevika), Chanakya Law University and Panchayati Raj.
Key Points –
• Findings -
• 99% of the female population and 92% of the male population of the state are in favour of prohibition.
• So far 1.82 crore i.e., about 96% people have stopped drinking alcohol.
• The survey was conducted in most of the villages in 38 districts and 534 blocks of Bihar.
• 1.15 lakh people of Jeevika group were engaged in the survey work.
• This was the third survey on liquor ban.
• Previous two –
• 1st (2017) - ADRI and Jagjivan Ram Research Institute.
• 2nd (2022) - Chanakya National Law Institute and AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies.
POINTERS:
• Where was the 23rd edition of India International Seafood Show held recently – Kolkata.
• Recently, the President of which country has given the Global Best M-GOV award to the students of IIT Indore – Egypt.
• State of the Union (SOTU) Address is related to which country – USA.
• Who has recently been awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny UNESCO Peace Prize - Angela Merkel.
• Who has been appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh - Dr. B.D. Mishra.
• In February 2023, which neighbouring country of India has recently partnered with Russia to develop nuclear power – Myanmar.
• Who has recently won the FIFA Club World Cup 2022 title - Real Madrid.
• Which bank recently announced the launch of QR-code based coin vending machine as a pilot project - Reserve Bank of India.
• In which city has the Formula E-Championship been inaugurated by Union Minister Anurag Thakur recently – Hyderabad.
• Who has won the men's recurve title in the "National Ranking Archery Tournament" - Tarundeep Rai.