Daily Current Affairs 21st February 2023

Current Affairs 21st February 2023 are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily Current Affairs is the complete bag of important news that is held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update for 21st February 2023 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz. 

Here is the Current Affairs 21st February 2023 covering the following news headlines: First nuclear plant, Group on Counter Terrorism, Arunachal Pradesh, Khajuraho Dance Festival, Unemployment benefits.

Top 20 Daily Current Affairs: National & International News:

Here is providing below the top 20 important Daily General Knowledge 2022 updates with national & international news.

                                           National News

1. First nuclear plant of North India to be built in Haryana

• The first nuclear power plant in North India would be built in Gorakhpur, Haryana, according to Union Minister Jitendra Singh.
• He claimed that one of the major accomplishments under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership would be the installation of nuclear and atomic energy plants across the nation, which had previously been largely restricted to states in the south like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as well as western Maharashtra.
• According to Singh, the Center has unanimously approved the installation of 10 nuclear reactors in an effort to boost India’s nuclear capability.
• The Department of Atomic Energy is also allowed to join forces with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to get funding for the opening of nuclear power plants.

                                           International News

2. India – Egypt hold 3rd ‘Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism’ meeting in New Delhi

• India has been collaborating with numerous countries and organizations to counter global terrorism at various levels. Egypt is one such country with whom India has constantly worked to combat terrorism.
• The third meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was conducted on February 16, 2023, in New Delhi.
• The Indian side of the meeting was spearheaded by Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary for Counter-Terrorism, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while the Egyptian side was led by Mohamed Fouad Ahmed, Director, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt.
• During the discussion, the two nations discussed their counterterrorism priorities and steps taken to combat terrorism while also reviewing the threats posed by terrorist organizations both internationally and in their particular countries and regions.

                                                 State News

3. Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Day 2023 Celebrations and History

• Statehood Day in Arunachal Pradesh is a state holiday observed on 20^th February in the Northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Statehood Day in Arunachal Pradesh is celebrated to commemorate the granting of statehood to the state which occurred in the year 1987.
• Arunachal Pradesh holds a key position in the whole northeastern Indian states, as it served as the general name of the whole region before its statehood.
• It is full of mountains and situated close to the Himalayas. Arunachal Pradesh shares its international border with China, Myanmar, and Bhutan.

4. Khajuraho Dance Festival is Organized in Madhya Pradesh

• The seven-day 49th Khajuraho Dance Festival will begin with Bharatnatyam and kathak at the temple declared as UNESCO heritage.
• The annual event of the Khajuraho Dance Festival is being organized by Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Evam Kala Akademi and the directorate of culture in association with the tourism department and the Archaeological Survey of India.
• Bharatanatyam dance will be presented by Janki Rangarajan, whereas Kathak-Bharatnatyam will be presented by Dhirendra Tiwari, Aprajita Sharma, and Kathak by Prachi Shah respectively.
• The performance of Srilakshmi Govardhanan (Kuchipudi), Maithil Devika and troupe (Mohiniattam) and Vaibhav Aarekar and troupe (Bharatnatyam), Pratisha Suresh (Satriya dance), Himanshi Katragadda and Aarti Nair (Kuchipudi -Bharatanatyam Jugalbandi) and Kadamba Centre for Dance (Kathak dance) will be held on 21^st and 22^nd February 2023.
• Odissi dance by Ramli Ibrahim and troupe, kathak by Sanjukta Sinha and Tejaswani Sathe and troupe, kathakali by Akash Malik and Rudra Prasad Rai.

                                         Defence News

5. Bell in honour of late CDS Bipin Rawat placed at Nepal’s Shree Muktinath temple

• In commemoration of India’s late Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, a bell has been placed at Nepal’s revered Shree Muktinath Temple.
• The bell named “Bipin Bell,” has been installed at the revered Hindu temple in Mustang district during the visit of four former Indian army chiefs namely Gen VN Sharma, Gen JJ Singh, Gen Deepak Kapoor and Gen Dalbir Suhag.

                                            Economy News

6. Unemployment benefits under ESIC extended for 2 years by Labour Ministry

• The 190th Meeting of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) was held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Labor & Employment and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
• Shri Rameswar Teli, Minister of State for Labor & Employment, Petroleum & Natural Gas, was present at the meeting as well.
• At the 190th meeting of the ESI Corporation, Shri Yadav announced a number of initiatives that will boost Shram Jeevis’ social security and further the goal of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Atal BeemitVyaktikalyan Yojana benefits are now available for two additional years.

                                          Banking News

7. Bank of Maharashtra tops list of public sector lenders in loan growth, asset quality

• Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among state-owned lenders in terms of loan growth percentage during the third quarter of 2022-23, an analysis of the latest financial results of public sector banks showed.
• The Pune-based lender recorded a 21.67 per cent increase in gross advances on a year-on-year basis, according to the latest quarterly numbers of the public sector bank (PSB).
• The bank has maintained the top slot in credit growth in percentage terms consistently for the past 10 quarters despite COVID-19 pressures. BoM was followed by the Union Bank of India with 19.80 per cent growth.
• Country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) stood at fourth spot with 16.91 per cent rise in advances growth. However, SBI’s total loans were about 17 times higher at Rs 26,47,205 crore as compared to Rs 1,56,962 crore of BoM in absolute terms.

                                         Important Days

8. International Mother Language Day observed on 21st February

• Every year on February 21, the world celebrates International Mother Language Day to encourage linguistic, cultural, and multilingualism variety.
• The aim of the celebrations is to preserve traditional knowledge and cultures through sustainable methods and support multilingualism in societies. In India, we also refer to it as the Matribhasha Diwas.
• The theme of the 2023 International Mother Language Day, “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education” aligns with recommendations made during the Transforming Education Summit, where an emphasis was also placed on Indigenous people’s education and languages.

                                             Agreements News

9. Cabinet approves MoUs between ICAI and ICA England & Wales for mutual recognition of qualification, training

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW).
• The MoU is to provide recognition of the qualification, training of each other’s members and admit the members in good standing by prescribing a bridging mechanism on the prevailing terms and conditions.
• The Parties to this MoU will provide each other with the information on material changes to their qualifying/admission requirements, CPD policy, exemptions and any other relevant matters.

10. Ministry of Rural Development Signed MoU with Meesho

• Ministry of Rural Development signed an MoU between the ministry and Meesho an e-commerce platform owned by Bengaluru-based Fashnear Technologies Private Limited.
• As per the agreement, the e-commerce platform will help in the marketing of products made by the Self-Help Groups under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission.
• Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh informed that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge, there were 2.35 crore SHG members, but with a focused approach to empower rural poor women in the last 9 years, the number of SHG members has expanded to more than 9 crores and will touch 10 crores by 2024.

                                      Appointment News

11. Rajesh Rai named as CMD of ITI Limited

• Rajesh Rai has been appointed as Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Indian Telephone Industries Limited (ITI Ltd), a PSU under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The Central Government has approved his appointment.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Rai for a period of five years with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post, or till the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.
• Presently, he is serving as General Manager in Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL).

12. Former IAS BVR Subrahmanyam appointed new NITI Aayog CEO

• Former IAS officer BVR Subrahmanyam was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Niti Aayog.
• The former Commerce Secretary takes over from Parameswaran lyer, who has been named as the Executive Director of World Bank.
• Subrahmanyam will take over from current CEO Parameswaran Iyer who will join World Bank as executive director in Washington DC.
• Subrahmanyam’s appointment as NITI Aayog CEO was announced by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Mr. Subrahmanyam’s appointment is for two years from the date of assumption of the charge of the post.

                                          Schemes News

13. Govt forms cabinet secretary-led panel to monitor Mission Karmayogi

• Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba will head a top panel comprising a senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office, seven secretaries, among others, to monitor the implementation of the government’s ambitious Mission Karmayogi programme for training of government employees.
• The government has recently approved setting up a Cabinet Secretariat Coordination Unit or CSCU as part of the institutional framework under the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) or Mission Karmayogi, officials said, citing an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in this regard.

                                        Science and Technology News

14. APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission-2023 launched from Tamil Nadu

• The Martin Foundation in association with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation and Space Zone India launched the APJ Abdul Kalam Satellite Launch Vehicle Mission-2023 from the Pattipolam village of Chengalpattu district in Tamil Nadu. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was also present at the event.
• As per an official statement, more than 5000 students from Grade 6th to 12th, from various parts of the country, have been enabled to design and develop 150 PICO satellites, to be launched through the rocket, in this initiative.

15. Serum Institute to establish centre of excellence for Infectious Diseases & Pandemic Preparedness in Hyderabad

• Serum Institute of India will be setting up Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Infectious Diseases and Pandemic Preparedness in the Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad.
• While the discussion for the proposed CoE was initiated at the meeting of Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao’s meeting with Adar C. Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India during the World Economic Forum in Davos in May 2022, the announcement of the center was made after Rama Rao’s virtual meeting with Adar Poonawalla.
• The Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH-H) is one of five institutions established by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) to strengthen health systems for better planning and performance and also align multi-sectoral policies and programmes to public health objectives.

16. Vedanta-Foxconn JV choose Dholera SIR for India’s first semiconductor facility 

• Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta and manufacturing behemoth Foxconn announced their joint venture’s plans to build a semiconductor and display manufacturing facility in Gujarat’s Dholera Special Investment Zone.
• In September of last year, the Gujarat government and the Vedanta-Foxconn JV inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the JV to invest 1,54,000 crore to build a semiconductor and display manufacturing facility.
• It is India’s first factory for the production of semiconductors.
• The joint venture between Vedanta and Foxconn chose Dholera SIR for the location of their semiconductor and display production facility after conducting a thorough site analysis and consulting with Gujarati government officials.

17. India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 accomplishes another achievement

• India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3 has successfully underwent EMI-EMC (Electro-Magnetic Interference/ Electro-Magnetic Compatibility).
• The EMI-EMC test is conducted for satellite missions to ensure functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment and their compatibility with the expected electromagnetic levels.
• The test was conducted between January 31 and February 2 at U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru.

                                         Awards News

18. Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2023

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the country’s highest award in the field of cinema.
• The 2023 winners were revealed by the Directorate of Film Festivals. Mumbai will host the 2023 Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival ceremony.
• Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards at the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards.
• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest award in the field of cinema. It is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals, an organisation set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

19. 76th BAFTA Awards 2023

• At the Royal Festival Hall in London, England, the 76th British Academy Film Awards, also referred to as the BAFTAs, were presented.
• The award was hosted by actor Richard E Grant, the star-studded ceremony saw the German ant-war film All Quiet on the Western Front winning seven awards, including the two big wins awards, Best Film and Best Director.
• Shaunak Sen’s documentary All That Breathes from India was a nominee for the Best Documentary award, which went to Daniel Roher’s Navalny.

                                        Obituaries News

20. Former Gujarat governor O P Kohli passes away at 87

• Former Gujarat governor and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Om Prakash Kohli has passed away at the age of 87. He was the 19th governor of Gujarat from 2014 to 2019.
• While presiding as Gujarat governor, he also served as the governor of Madya Pradesh and Goa. A former Rajya Sabha member and ex-president of BJP in Delhi, he was also a leading academician.

Important Current Affairs of 21st February 2023