Daily Current Affairs 18th Feb 2021 | Daily GK update Quiz

Exp. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ initiative in Assam on February 18, 2021.

He will lay the foundation stone for the Dhubri Phulbari bridge. PM will also perform the bhumi pujan for the construction of Majuli Bridge in Assam.

PM while announcing the details stated that, it will be a landmark day in the development journey for Assam as Mahabahu-Brahmaputra initiative is going to be launched.

Exp. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was conferred with the SKOCH Chief Minister of the Year Award. SKOCH Group Chairman Sameer Kochhar called on the Chief Minister at his camp office at Tadepalli on Tuesday and presented the award to him.

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was selected for the SKOCH Chief Minister of the Year Award based on a year-long study of results of projects being implemented by governments in various States of the country.

Exp. The National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has launched an instant messaging platform called “Sandes”. Similar to WhatsApp, the new government instant messaging systems (GIMS) platform can be used for all kinds of communications by anyone using a mobile number or email id.

The need to build a home-grown messaging platform was felt by the government to ensure secure communication between people as they worked from home, following the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Exp. Amazon is setting up its first device manufacturing line in India to make Fire TV sticks locally and has partnered with Cloud Network Technology, a subsidiary of Foxconn, to begin producing the device at its Chennai plant later this year.

The e-commerce giant claimed that the production line will have an annual capacity of “hundreds of thousands” of units, and will also continuously evaluate manufacturing capacity based on domestic demand for its devices.

Exp. India signed a new agreement with Australia on 17th Feb and decided to expand on space collaboration as the sector continues to grow and create jobs.

The amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Space Agency and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), builds on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and India announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

Exp. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a comprehensive economic cooperation and partnership agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius. This approval was given on February 17, 2021.

It is a kind of a free trade agreement between India and Mauritius. This agreement was signed with the aim of liberalising the norms to boost a two-way commerce.

This agreement will cover 310 export items for India such as foodstuff & beverages, textile & textile articles, base metals, agricultural products, electricals & electronic items, plastics & chemicals, wood & its articles.

Exp. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) have planned to launch the World Solar Bank (WSB) at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow that is scheduled for November 2021. The WSB have planned to disburse around $50 billion to the member countries of ISA over next 10 years.

The development of the World Solar Bank will support India’s attempt to secure its leadership in the climate arena. The development of the bank is significance because the green finance will be one of the priority themes at the climate meet called COP-26. COP-26 will be organised in the backdrop of US re-joining the Paris climate accord.

About International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India

Membership: 121 members of UN

Director General: Ajay Mathur

Exp. S&P Global Ratings on Wednesday said India will be one of the fastest growing emerging market economies with a 10% growth in the fiscal year 22, and future sovereign rating action would hinge on lowering fiscal deficit and sustaining debt burden.

S&P Director, Sovereign & International Public Finance Ratings, Andrew Wood said the forecast for India in 2021 is on stronger side and shows that a lot of economic activity, which was frozen last year, is coming back on line to normalisation thereby brightening the growth prospects

Exp. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who has been given additional charge of Puducherry, will assume office as Lieutenant Governor on 18th Feb.

Dr. Kiran Bedi ceased to hold office of the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, a senior official of the UT called on Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundarajan to hand over the Warrant of Appointment.

Exp. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced his resignation on 18th Feb, following a court ruling that ordered the arrest of a man who leads the ex-Soviet nation’s top opposition party.

Mr. Gakharia said in a statement he was stepping down because of disagreements within his own team over the decision to arrest Nika Melia, chairman of the United National Movement opposition party.

Exp. India and France are the president and co-president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

About International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana, India

Membership: 121 members of UN

Director General: Ajay Mathur

Exp. United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021.

Exp. Founder & current CEO: Jeff Bezos

Next CEO: Andy Jassy

Exp. Capital: Tbilisi

Currency: Georgian lari

President: Salome Zourabichvili