1. PM Narendra Modi inaugurates National War Memorial in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National War Memorial near India Gate, New Delhi.
The memorial is a commemoration of the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers since Independence with the names of 25,942 martyrs (scope to add more names) etched in stone forever.
The main structure has been built in the form of four chakras with the eternal flame and obelisk located in the inner-most chakra (Amar Chakra).
The layout of the Memorial comprises four concentric circles, Amar Chakra Circle of Immortality, the Veerta Chakra Circle of Bravery, the Tyag Chakra Circle of Sacrifice, and the Rakshak Chakra or Circle of Protection.
The obelisk stands at a height of 15.5 metres and is visible even from a distance as one enters the complex.
The final chakra ‘Rakshak Chakra’ surrounds the other three and consists of over 600 trees that will act as a wall and represent the soldiers who protect the country.
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The memorial will help strengthen the sense of belonging, high moral values, sacrifice and national pride in the citizens.
2. PM Modi delivered the keynote address at 'Rising India Summit 2019' in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address at the 2nd edition ‘Rising India Summit 2019’ in New Delhi.
The theme for this year's event is "Beyond Politics: Defining National Priorities".
People of eminence and exceptional achievements from various walks of life come together in New Delhi to celebrate India’s successes and deliberate the future.
Note:
‘Rising India’, an incontrovertible truth, is one of the most anticipated thought leadership forums in India.
3. Ashwini Kumar Choubey launches a national programme to eliminate viral hepatitis
The Minister of state for health Ashwini Kumar Choubey has launched a national action plan ‘Viral Hepatitis’ aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis at Mumbai.
The programme is also in line with the country's global commitment towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3.
The objective of the programme is to combat hepatitis and achieve countrywide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030.
Amitabh Bachchan is the goodwill ambassador for hepatitis, WHO South-East Asia Region.
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India is one of the few countries to roll out management of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in a public health approach and offer free diagnostics and drugs lifelong to its beneficiaries.
4. PM Modi launches PM-KISAN scheme by transferring 1st instalment of Rs 2,000 to farmers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘PM-KISAN scheme’ (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana) at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Through press of the button, electronically transfer the first instalment of 2 thousand rupees to selected farmers.
The amount will be transferred directly to the bank account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefits Transfer.
The amount will be given in three instalments of 2 thousand rupees each, which will benefit more than 12 crore farmers of the country.
Note:
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana was announced in the interim Budget 2019-20.
Under the Scheme, Rs 6,000 will be given per year to small and marginal farmer families having a combined land holding of up to 2 hectares.
The Scheme becomes effective from 1.12.2018 for transfer of benefit to eligible beneficiaries.
5. Smriti Irani launches Integrated Large Scale Eri Farming in Arunachal Pradesh under NERTPS
Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has launched the Integrated Large Scale Eri Farming in Arunachal Pradesh under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) in Itanagar.
The Project will cover five districts of the state (Papumpare, East Kameng, Siang, East Siang and West Siang).
Around one thousand acres land will be covered for Eri Farming in the chosen districts of the state.
The Union Government has decided to provide financial assistance to 4000 (four thousand) beneficiaries under NERTPS.
The traditional weaving culture in the state provides vast opportunity for the Textile sector in Arunachal Pradesh.
6. NITI Aayog hosts Conference on The Future of Indian Banking
NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar inaugurated a conference on “The Future of Indian Banking” in New Delhi.
The conference was organised with the Foundation for Economic Growth and Welfare (EGROW Foundation).
The objective of the conference was to increase and elevate the discourse on the banking sector in India and help develop insights to inform the continued evolution of the Indian banking sector for optimally supporting the growing credit needs of the Indian economy.
Honours & Awards
7. Olivia Colman wins best actress Oscar award for "The Favourite"
Olivia Colman won the best actress award for "The Favourite", at the 91st Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.
The British actress got the award for her performance as Queen Anne in the period comedy-drama.
Rami Malek won the best actor for a biographical film "Bohemian Rhapsody".
An American biographical comedy-drama film," GreenBook" won the Best Picture.
Filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron has won the Best Director Oscar for 'Roma' which is an American and Mexican drama.
Pop diva LadyGaga got the Best Original Song Academy Award for "Shallow" from her feature debut "A Star is Born".
International Affairs
8. Afghanistan begins export to India via Chabahar port
Afghanistan has begun exports to India through Iran’s Chabahar port, as the landlocked country turns to overseas markets to improve its economy.
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has inaugurated the new export route ‘Chabahar route’ in Zaranj city, western Nimroz province.
According to Indian ambassador, ‘Vinay Kumar’ Afghanistan’s exports to India have increased by 40% after the launch of air corridor between Kabul and New Delhi.
Now, Afghanistan’s exports will increase to two billion dollars from the current one billion dollars in the next year.
Note:
Chabahar port is the result of healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan.
The Iranian port provides easy access to the sea to Afghanistan and India has helped developed this route to allow both countries to engage in trade bypassing Pakistan.
‘Chabahar Port’ is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman.
9. World's largest bee spotted the first time since 1981
A team of researchers spotted the world's giant bee which is as big as a human thumb, in Indonesia.
Wallace's giant bee (scientific name -Megachile pluto) is the world's largest bee species.
It was first discovered in 1859 by the prominent scientist Alfred Russel Wallace and was presumed extinct.
10. India to attend OIC meet for the first time
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has been invited to deliver an address at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi on the 1st - 2nd March 2019.
This is the first time that a leader of the non-Muslim country has been invited to the OIC conference.
She will be the Guest of Honour and address the inaugural plenary of the 46th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC.
It is also a welcome recognition of the presence of 185 million Muslims in India and of India’s contribution to the Islamic world.
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The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is "the collective voice of the Muslim world" and works to "safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony".
The OIC has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.
Sports
11. Manpreet Singh honoured with AHF's Player of the Year
The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has honoured Indian skipper Manpreet Singh with the 2018 Player of the Year award.
Women team's striker Lalremsiami (18-year-old) has bagged the Rising Player of The Year prize.
Manpreet led the Indian team to an unbeaten streak at the Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat, joint winners with Pakistan.
He also contributed to the team's silver medal win at the FIH Champions Trophy in Breda.
12. Apurvi Chandela wins gold in women's 10m air rifle
Apurvi Chandela has won the gold medal in the women's 10-metre air rifle event at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.
This is India's first medal of the ISSF World Cup 2019.
She set a new world record by registering a score of 252.9 points in the final.
Silver medallist Zhao Ruozhu (China) scored 251.8 points and Xu Hong (China) settled for the bronze medal with 230.4 points.
