Payment Processing...

Daily Current Affairs 23rd Feb 2021

To prepare for any competitive exam, one of the important sections to read and learn is current affairs. Exams like UPSC, Bank, SSC, RRB or any Government

Khajuraho Dance Festival Organised in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh: 20th to 26th February 2021

  • Ms Usha Thakur, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Madhya Pradesh inaugurated the 47th edition of Khajuraho Dance Festival on 20th February 2021.
  • The 47th Khajuraho Dance Festival at Khajuraho, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Heritage site in Madhya Pradesh.
  • This 7-day dance festival is organised by the UstadAlauddin Khan Music and Arts Academy under the Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh from 20th February to 26th February 2021.
  • The Khajuraho Dance Festival was introduced in 1975 to promote heritage and tourism.
  • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) cancelled the permission to organise the event at the temple complex following the reports on destruction of monuments and defacement of idols.
  • After 44 years, with the permission of ASI, the government of Maharashtra has organised the event in the temple premises of Khajuraho temple complex, which is known for its Hindu and Jain Temples.
  • For the past 44 years the event was organised at the open garden developed near Western Group of Temples.
  • The temples at Khajuraho were constructed during the Chandella dynasty, between 950 and 1050.
  • Currently there are around 20 temples remains, which belong to two different religions Hinduism and Jainism.

RBI Puts Rs 1000 Withdrawal Cap on Deccan Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd. for Next 6 Months

  • The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) on considering the present liquidity position of Deccan Urban Co operative Bank Ltd., has imposed a withdrawal cap of Rs 1,000 on the customers of the bank. But, customers are allowed to set off loans against deposits subject to conditions. This is for the period of 6 months from the close of business on February 19, 2021.
  • This direction has been imposed by RBI in exercise of powers vested in it under sub section (1) of Section 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
  • CEO of the bank only with prior approval from RBI in writing shall do the following:
  • Granting or renewing any loans and advance
  • Make any investment, incur any liability including borrowing of funds and accepting of fresh deposits
  • Disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities or otherwise, or dispose of any of its assets except as notified in the RBI direction.

SBI Payments Services Launched 'YONO Merchant App'

  • SBI Payment Services Pvt. Ltd launched YONO Merchant App to expand the digitization of merchant payments in India. Through the app, merchants can turn their Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled Android smartphones into payment acceptance devices.
  • It is a brand extension of State Bank of India(SBI)'s YONO(You Only Need One) platform.
  • SBI has also partnered with Visa on the Tap to Phone feature to boost acceptance infrastructure across India
  • The launch is in line with RBI's recent announcement to create a Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) to encourage acquirers to deploy Point of Sale (POS) infrastructure (both physical and digital) in low penetration areas of the country

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar Launched India's BRICS 2021 website

  • External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar launched India's BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)2021 website(https://brics2021.gov.in/about-brics.html) at the BRICS Secretariat at SushmaSwarajBhawan, Delhi.
  • In addition to this, he also soft launched the upgraded facilities at SushmaSwarajBhavan that will serve as the Secretariat for BRICS Summit.
  • India assumed the presidency of BRICS for 2021. Russia was the chair of BRICS for 2020.
  • BRICS celebrates its 15th anniversary unde the theme 'Intra-BRICS Cooperation'.

UP Signed MoU with IKEA; IKEA to Invest Rs.5500 Crore in UP in 5 years

  • Government of Uttar Pradesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IKEA, a Swedish furniture and home applications company, which is set to invest Rs.5500 crore in the state during the next 5 years.
  • The government of Uttar Pradesh has allocated 47,833 square meters of land in Noida for IKEA Outlet, which will be one of the largest IKEA outlets in the World (at present the largest IKEA outlet is in Stockholm, Sweden which is 55,221 square meters).
  • IKEA will pay Rs 850 crores for the purchase of the land which will generate a revenue of Rs 56 crore in the form of Stamp duty.
  • The outlet will commence its operations by 2025.
  • IKEA also plans to open 3 major outlets in Purvanchal and Central UP.
  • IKEA plans to open around 25 center's in India by 2025 by investing Rs 10500 crore, most of these stores will be in UP.

Bank of Maharashtra Partnered with Vayana Network

  • Bank of Maharashtra(BOM) in partnership with Vayana Network, India's largest Supply Chain Financing (SCF) platform, launched its Mahabank Channel Financing Scheme, a Channel Financing solution for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs).
  • This partnership enables BoM to provide short term credit to meet funding requirements of corporate dealers and vendors through its channel.
  • Under the partnership, Vayana Network will provide SCF solutions to more than 1,870 branches of BoM through its technology and service knowledge. SCF solutions include vendor and dealer financing programs.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakahria Resigns

  • Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia resigned due to a disagreement with his own team over the decision to arrest NikaMelia, chairman of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition party. Giorgi Gakharia belongs to Georgian Dream party. He served as the Prime Minister since September 2019

About Georgia:

  • Capital- Tbilisi
  • Currency- Georgian Lari(GEL)

Seiko Hashimoto Takes Over as 2020 Tokyo Olympic President

  • Seiko Hashimoto, seven time Olympian (speed skater and cyclist) who was serving as the Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games became the president of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  • Seiko Hashimoto resigned from the role of Minister of Olympics as she takes over as the president of 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
  • She succeeds Former chief Yoshiro Mori following his resignation over the condemned sexist remarks.
  • Seiko Hashimoto a former olympian who represented japan in speed skating at 4 winter Olympic games(1984, 1988, 1992 & 1994) and in Track cycling at 3 Summer Games(1988, 1992 & 1996).
  • She was the first politician in Japan to take maternity leave while in office and she was also the first upper house lawmaker to give birth while holding the office.

Mohammad YounesMenfi Becomes Interim Head of Presidential Council of Libya & Abdul Hamid Dbeibah as Interim PM of Libya

  • UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) selected Mohammad YounesMenfi as interim president of the 3 member Presidential Council of Libya and Abdul Hamid Dbeibah as interim Prime Minister of the country.
  • Other members of the Presidential council include, Abdullah Al-Lafi and Mossa Al-Koni.
  • He will serve as the Interim PM till the National Election that is to be held later 2021.

About Libya officially the State of Libya:

  • Capital- Tripoli
  • Currency- Libyan Dinar

DRDO completes Joint User Trials for HELINA &Dhruvastra versions of ATGM

  • DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organization) successfully conducted the trials of HELINA (Helicopter Launched Nag) (Army version) &Dhruvastra (Air Force Version) of the Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) from Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) platform in Pokhran, Rajasthan.
  • The Missiles have been developed indigenously by DRDO.
  • The Missiles successfully completed Five Missions for evaluating the missile capabilities in minimum and maximum range.
  • As they have completed the trials successfully, they will be ordered by the Indian Air Force & Indian Army for their Combat choppers.
  • HELINA has a range of 7 Kms.

SpaceX Launched 60 Starlink Satellites into Space; Missed its Landing Target

  • SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States of America. The satellites were launched using a two-stage rocket, otherwise known as the Falcon 9 booster. This was the 6th launch of this Falcon 9 booster. This launch is part of the 19th Starlink mission.
  • The rocket's first stage did not land on SpaceX's drone ship Of Course I Still Love You' in the Atlantic Ocean as planned.
  • In 2015, SpaceX did 1st successful booster landing
  • Since then, the company has landed 67 boosters out of 107 total Falcon 9 launches, and 50 of those flights have made use of previously flown boosters.

About SpaceX:

  • Chief Executive Officer - Elon Musk
  • Headquarters - California, USA

Sri Lankan Cricketer Dhammika Prasad announces Retirement from International Cricket

  • Sri Lankan Fast Bowler Dhammika Prasad announced his retirement from International Cricket at the age of 37.
  • He has represented Sri Lanka in 25 Tests, 24 One Day Internationals (ODIs) & 1 Twenty20 International (T201).
  • He has taken 75 wickets in Tests & 32 wickets in ODIS.
  • He first made his International debut in an ODI game against Bangladesh in 2006.

Amit Shah Released Book "RashtraPratham - 82 Varshon Ki Swarnim Gatha" on CRPF's History

  • Amit Shah, Home Minister of India released a book titled "RashtraPratham - 82 varshonkiSwarnim Gatha" (Nation First - The Golden Story of 82 Years), which chronicles the history of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) since its raising in 1939. The book was compiled by historian Dr Bhuwan Kumar Jha of Delhi University.
  • The book was released at the event organised for the first ever CRPF Veteran Day, at the CRPF Shaurya Officers Institute, New Delhi.
  • The book is aimed to inspire the newly inducted personnel's of CRPF.
  • The book of 11 chapters accounts various aspects of CRPF such as its founding and operations, enactment of CRPF Act, the valor and sacrifice of CRPF at Hot Springs and Sardar Post, its role in 1971 Indo Pak war, counter insurgency operations in Punjab, northeast and J&K, civic action initiatives, overseas missions, special forces Rapid Action Force(RAF) and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action(COBRA), sports and Welfare among others.

CRPF Veterans Day 2021 - 19th February

  • The CRPF celebrated the first ever CRPF Veterans Day on 19th February 2021.
  • Every year starting from 2021, the 3rd Friday of February will be celebrated as the CRPF Veterans Day.

About CRPF:

  • Director General, Dr. AP Maheshwari,IPS
  • Headquarters-New Delhi

Peter Mukerjea's Book, a Memoir Titled "Star Struck: Confessions of a TV Executive"

  • Peter Mukerjea, the former CEO of Star India Network, has penned down his memoir titled "Star Struck: Confessions of a TV Executive". The book is a written confession of Peter Mukerjea, a well known media personality who is undertrial for the murder case of Sheen Bora.
  • The book is published by Westland Books, the publishing arm of Amazon.
  • The book is a collection of Peter Mukerjea's experiences in Star India and his journey to becoming the CEO of Star India.
  • The book also features the life events that changed his life over the years.
  • Peter Mukerjea joined Star TV in 1993 and he was promoted as the Executive Vice President in 1997 and later appointed as the CEO of Star India in 1999.
  • He was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) in November 2015, in connection with the Sheena Bora Murder case, in which IndraniMukerjea his former wife is the main accused.

M Venkaiah Naidu Released a Book, 'Maverick Messiah: A Political Biography of N.T. Rama Rao'

  • Vice President(VP) M Venkaiah Naidu released a book titled, 'Maverick Messiah: A Political Biography of N.T. Rama Rao'. The non-fiction book is authored by senior journalist, Ramesh Kandula and published by Penguin Random house India.
  • NandamuriTaraka(N.T.) Rama Rao (28 May 1923 - 18 January 1996) is widely known as NTR
  • He is an Indian actor, producer, director, film editor and politician who served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh(AP) for 7 years over three terms.
  • He founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982.
  • He was the first non-Congress Chief Minister of the state.
  • AP Govt in 1996 instituted The NTR National Award in honour of him.
  • The award recognises notable film personalities for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Indian film industry
  • Ramesh Kandula is serving as the CEO & chief editor of Mahaa News, a Telugu news channel, broadcasting from Hyderabad.