21 February 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. The 4th India-ASEAN Expo and Summit 2019 begins in New Delhi

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu & ASEAN Secretary-General have jointly inaugurated the 4^th India-ASEAN Expo and Summit, 2019 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi (21-23 Feb, 2019).
Trade Ministers of ASEAN Countries, Secretary-General of ASEAN, business delegations, 200 plus exhibitors from India and ASEAN are participating in the Expo and Summit.
ASEAN being the second largest trading partner of India (after China) with a total bilateral merchandise trade of USD 81.33 billion.

Note:

This is a flagship event being organised with FICCI to carry forward the momentum and to further strengthen India-ASEAN relations under the Act-East Policy.
The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises of Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Cambodia and Brunei.

2. Government clears National Policy on Electronics to make India global hub in this sector

The Union Govt. has cleared the National Policy on Electronics 2019(NPE 2019), proposed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The NPE- 2019 aims to position India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) by encouraging and driving capabilities in the country for developing core components.
It envisions positioning India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing.
The National Policy of Electronics 2019 (NPE 2019) replaces the National Policy of Electronics 2012 (NPE 2012).

3. PM Modi arrives in Seoul on a two-day visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Seoul on a two-day visit to South Korea.
He will receive the ‘Seoul Peace Prize’ in recognition of his dedication to international cooperation, global growth and human development.
Mr Modi will also hold bilateral talks with Moon Jae-in (South Korean President).
Prime minister addressed the India-Korea Business Symposium and launched India-Korea Startup Hub.
As a part of Mahatma Gandhi 150th birth anniversary, Prime Minister will unveil a bust of Mahatma at the Seoul Campus of Yonsei University.

Note:

The Republic of Korea (ROK) is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and lying to the east of the Asian mainland.

4. Saudi Arabia to invest 100 billion dollars in India

Saudi Arabia will invest 100 billion dollars in India in range of areas including energy, refining, petrochemicals, infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing.
On the visit of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the two sides also expressed satisfaction at the positive trend in the bilateral ties and stressed on the need to tap the untapped potential in trade particularly in Non-Oil trade.
A joint working group on counter-terrorism will also be set up.

5. Operation Digital Board launched to provide better digital education

The Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar has launched ‘Operation Digital Board’ on the lines of Operation Blackboard to provide better digital education in schools.
Under the initiative, seven lakh classrooms of 9th, 10th and 11th standards and two lakh classrooms of colleges and Universities will be equipped with digital boards in the next three years.
It will improve the quality of education and offer new opportunities and new ways of teaching and learning.
It will revolutionize the education system in the country with different kinds of digital teaching materials, quality lectures and other facilities.

National Appointments

6. Senior IPS officer Anuj Sharma appointed Kolkata Police Commissioner

The West Bengal government has appointed Additional Director General (ADG) of West Bengal Police (law and order) Anuj Sharma (IPS officer-1991-batch) as the new Kolkata Police Commissioner, replacing Rajeev Kumar.
Earlier, Rajeev Kumar was transferred as ADG & IGP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Note:

The Kolkata Police Commissioner heads the almost 35,000 strong metropolitan police force.
The headquarter is at 18, Lal Bazar Street, near B.B.D. Bagh area of Central Kolkata.

Books & Authors

7. ‘Simplicity & Wisdom’ authored by Mr. Dinesh Shahra launched

West Bengal Governor ‘Keshari Nath Tripathi’ and Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Head of Parmarth Ashram) have jointely launched book ‘Simplicity & Wisdom’ at Parmarth Ashram in Kumbh Mela, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
The book authored by famous Industrialist and Philanthropist Mr. Dinesh Shahra(Chairman of Ruchi Group).
The book aims at guiding towards saintly wisdom and leading a content and happy life.

Important Dates

8. International Mother Language Day being celebrated today

International Mother Language Day is being observed every year on the 21st of February (since February 2000) to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
The theme of this year’s Mother Language Day is ‘Indigenous Languages as a factor in development, peace and reconciliation’.

Note:

The first International Mother Language Day announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999 and formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.

Banking and Finance

9. LIC launches ‘Micro Bachat’ plan

Indian state-owned insurance group and investment company Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has launched a new microinsurance plan ‘Micro Bachat’.
It is a regular premium, non-linked participating endowment microinsurance plan, offers a combination of protection and saving.
For the first time, a microinsurance plan has been launched providing coverage up to Rs 2 lakh.
This plan is available for standard healthy lives only in the age group of 18-55 years without undergoing any medical examination.

Note:

This plan provides financial support for the family in case of unfortunate death of the policyholder during the policy term and a lump sum amount at the time of maturity for the surviving policyholders.
The Life Insurance Corporation of India was founded in 1956 when the Parliament of India passed the Life Insurance of India Act that nationalised the private insurance industry in India.

Obituaries

10. Iconic German Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld passes away

Iconic German Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld (85-years) passed away in Paris.
Karl has recognized for his signature white hair, black sunglasses, fingerless gloves, and high, starched detachable collars.
Karl Lagerfeld's fashion career in high fashion in the 1950s as Pierre Balmain's assistant.
In 1983, Lagerfeld began his most prominent role by taking over as Chanel's creative director.

11. Climate scientist Wallace Smith Broecker passes away in New York

Climate scientist Wallace Smith Broecker (87-years) passed away in New York City hospital.
Columbia University professor Broecker brought "global warming" into common use with a 1975 paper that correctly predicted rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere would lead to pronounced warming.
He was known in science circles as the "Grandfather of Climate Science".
Broecker was also first to recognize what he called the Ocean Conveyor Belt, a global system of ocean currents circulating water and nutrients.

Sports

12. Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore inaugurates ISSF Shooting World Cup

The Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore has inaugurated the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup in New Delhi.
The ISSF World Cup is crucial for Indian shooting as it has 16 quotas up for grabs for Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification.
India is fielding a 23-member squad with 11 shooters in the non-competition Minimum Qualification Score category.

Note:

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is the governing body of the Olympic Shooting events in Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun disciplines, and of several non-Olympic Shooting sports events.
The ISSF headquarters is in Munich, Germany.