Today Current Affairs for Competitive
Exams - Current Affairs 2021 Online
Foundation laid for a medical college
 Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan laid
the foundation stone of Mon Medical College
covering 30 acres of land at District Hospital
Mon, Nagaland, on 26 Feb 2021.
 He also appealed the Nagaland government
and the people to actively participate in
an ambitious programme of the central
government in eliminating Tuberculosis by
2025.
2nd phase of vaccination from 1 March: Gujarat
 The Gujarat govt has announced the new
phase of vaccination drive against Covid 19
from 1 March 2021.
 People above 60 years will be covered under
the new phase of the vaccination drive.
 All eligible persons can register their names
on the Cowin2.0 portal in advance for
vaccination at govt and private centres.
 In the first week of March 2021, about 500
vaccination centres will be available.
Attukal pongala festival held in Kerala
 In Kerala, Attukal pongala festival was held on
27 Feb'21.
 Pongala is the annual ritual of the Attukal
Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram
and holds the Guinness world record as the
largest gathering of women.
 Every year nearly 20 lakh devotees take part
in the festival.
 Pongala, which means 'to boil over’, is the
ritual in which women prepare sweet
payasam and offer it to the Goddess.
39th Agartala International Book Fair begins
 The 39th edition of the Agartala International
Book Fair began on February 26, 2021.
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 The theme for the book fair is - "Amader
Tripura, Sresta Tripura," which means "Our
Tripura, Best Tripura."
 Cultural troops coming from Bangladesh,
Northeastern States including Sikkim will be
performing various cultural events on each
day as part of the fair.
Ban on international flights extended
 The Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) has extended the suspension of
international commercial passenger flight
services till March 31, 2021.
 Scheduled international flight operations were
suspended from March 23, 2020, in the wake
of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
 The restriction will not apply to cargo flights
and flights specifically approved by DGCA.
South Korea begins mass immunization drive
 South Korea began a mass immunization
drive on 26 February 2021 by giving
coronavirus shots from AstraZeneca to staff
and residents at nursing homes.
 Authorities plan to inoculate 70% of the
population of 52 million by November 2021.
 Inoculations with another vaccine, developed
by BioNTech-Pfizer began on 27 February
2021.
US carries out air strike in Syria
 The US military carried out an air strike
targeting Iran-backed militias in Syria in Feb
2021.
 It was the first military action ordered by the
Biden administration and came in response to
rocket attacks against US and coalition
personnel in Iraq.
 The attack destroyed multiple facilities located
at a border control point used by a number of
Iranian-backed militant groups.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's death anniversary  Scheduled airlines will be allowed to offer free
baggage allowance.
 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born May 28,
1883, at Bhagur village of Nashik district in Union Health Secretary chairs a meeting
Maharashtra.
 Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan
 He passed away on February 26, 1966, in
chaired a high-level meeting with the Health
Bombay.
Secretaries of states and UTs on the
 He was a nationalist and one of the most
vaccination of age-appropriate groups on 26
important figures of the Hindu Mahasabha
Feb 2021.
("Great Society of Hindus"), a Hindu
 They were explained the basic features of
nationalist organization and political party.
version 2.0 of the digital platform CO-Win,
 He got the nickname 'Veer' at the age of 12
which is a population-scale software with the
after performing a bravery act.
capacity of processing several thousands of
CSCs to be integrated with e-daakhil portal entries.
 E-Daakhil portal for consumer grievance India Aircraft Leasing Summit held
redressal is now operational in 15 states and
 Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
UTs.
addressed the India Aircraft Leasing Summit
 To facilitate the rural consumers for e-filing, it in New Delhi on 26 Feb'21.
has been decided to integrate the Common
 He informed that within a very short period of
Service Centres with the e-daakhil portal.
time, India will be the world's third-biggest civil
 The portal was launched by National aviation sector globally in overall terms.
Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission on
 Secretary Civil Aviation Pradeep Singh
7th September, 2020 for online redressal of
Kharola informed that aircraft leasing is the
consumer grievances.
most profitable segment of the aviation value
No COVID-19 vaccination sessions on Feb 27-28 chain.
 COVID 19 vaccination sessions will not take MHA extends COVID Guidelines till 31 March
place on 27 and 28 Feb 2021 in the wake of
 Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the
the IT system transition from Co-Win 1.0 to
existing COVID Guidelines for Surveillance,
Co-Win 2.0.
Containment and Caution till 31st of March
 The COVID vaccination was launched on 16th 2021.
January 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra
 The states and UTs have been advised to
Modi.
speed up the vaccination of the target
 The vaccination exercise is being expanded population to break the chain of transmission.
to include those above 60 years of age and
 The Standard Operating Procedures
those above 45 years with co-morbidities from
prescribed in respect of various permitted
1st March 2021.
activities will be followed thoroughly.
DGCA to give concession in ticket prices
Saras Aajeevika Mela inaugurated
 Directorate General of Civil Aviation has
 Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister
allowed domestic flight operators to give
Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Saras
concessions in ticket prices to travellers who
Aajeevika Mela 2021 at Noida Haat on 26
carry no baggage or only cabin baggage.
February 2021.
 At present, a traveller can carry up to 7 kg of
 It is being organized from 26th February to
cabin baggage and 15 kg of check-in
14th March 2021 by the Ministry of Rural
baggage without having to pay any additional
Development.
cost.

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 More than 300 rural self-help groups and
craftsman from 27 states are participating in
the Mela.
The India Toy Fair 2021 inaugurated
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated
the India Toy Fair 2021 through video
conferencing on 27 February 2021.
 The four-day event aims to bring together all
stakeholders including buyers, sellers,
students, teachers and designers on a virtual
platform.
 Over 1000 exhibitors from across 30 states
and UTs will display their products.
 The fair will be held till 2 March 2021.
Chandrashekhar Azad's death anniversary
 On February 27, 1931, one of India’s most
prominent freedom fighters Chandra Shekhar
Azad chose to take a bullet to his head with
his own hands rather than be taken captive by
British colonialists.
 Chandra Shekhar Azad, born on July 23,
1906, was most well-known for the Kakori
Train Robbery of 1925.
 At the age of 14, Azad joined Mahatma
Gandhi-led Non-co-operation Movement of
1920.
Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrated on 27 Feb
 Guru Ravidas Jayanti is being celebrated all
across the country on 27 Feb 2021.
 Bhakti movement saint Guru Ravidas is well-
known for making efforts in eradicating the
caste system.
 He was a contemporary to Kabirdas and
Mirabai was a disciple of Ravidas.
 His importance in Sikhism is denoted by the
fact that 40 of his poems were included in the
sacred Adi Granth.
China celebrates ‘Lantern Festival'
 China celebrated its traditional Lantern
festival on 26 February 2021.
 The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of
the first Chinese lunar month.
 China ushered into Lunar New Year - the
‘Year of the Ox’ on 12th Feb'21.
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 The Lantern Festival traditionally marks the
end of the Chinese New Year also known as
‘Spring Festival’ period.
Gujarat govt launches Budget mobile app
 Gujrat's Deputy CM Nitin Patel launched
'Gujarat Budget' mobile application at
Gandhinagar on 26 Feb'21.
 The app will have 5 different sections,
comprising budgetary allocations for 27
departments, budget highlights, finance
minister's speech, important aspects of the
budget & its news coverage.
 Budget publications will be available online,
therefore the govt will print only 20% of
material.
Kerala to provide free RT-PCR tests
 Kerala government will conduct RT-PCR tests
free of cost for expatriates returning to the
state.
 The Centre has issued this kind of direction
based on the fact that there was a
31% increase in Covid-19 cases in the state
in the last week of Feb'21.
 There are chances of the second wave of
Covid-19 spread in 16 states in the country.
Hima Das inducted as DSP in Assam
 Sprinter Hima Das was inducted as Deputy
Superintendent of Assam Police in the
presence of CM Sarbananda Sonowal on 26
Feb'21.
 She had won a silver in women’s 400m in the
2018 Asian Games and was also part of the
gold-winning women’s 400m relay and mixed
400m relay quartets in the quadrennial event
in Jakarta.
 She is also known as ‘Dhing Express’.
New Naval Officer-In-Charge
 Commodore M Goverdhan Raju, NM took
over as Naval Officer-in-Charge (Andhra
Pradesh) from Commodore Sanjiv Issar at a
ceremonial parade held in the Naval Base at
Visakhapatnam on 26 Feb 21.
 He was commissioned into the Indian Navy
on 01 Jul 1989 and is a specialist in
Navigation and Direction.
 He is a recipient of the Nao Sena
Medal (Devotion to Duty) in 2014.
L. Noronha: Assistant Secretary-General of UN
 UN Secretary-General António
Guterres has appointed Ligia Noronha of
India as Assistant Secretary-General and
Head of the New York Office of the United
Nations Environment Programme.
 She has worked as Director of UNEP’s
Economy Division based in Nairobi since
2014.
 Noronha will succeed fellow Indian and
development economist Satya Tripathi.
J&K UT issues ‘Student Health Card’
 Jammu and Kashmir administration has
started health check-ups of students and
issued ‘Student Health Card’ in all the
government schools under the Mid Day Meal
(MDM) scheme across the Union Territory.
 Student Health Card has been issued from
the age group of 5-12 years after filling a form
with complete health-related details to
ascertain any deficiencies among the kids.
Nagaland's first air cargo service
 Nagaland will have its first air cargo service
soon from Dimapur airport.
 The Security clearance for domestic cargo
operation was approved by the Director
General, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security,
Ministry of Civil of Aviation.
 This cargo service will boost the farming
community of the state and ensure timely and
efficient transport of their produce to other
parts of the country.
Cricketer Yusuf Pathan announces retirement
 India's all-rounder Yusuf Pathan announced
his retirement from all formats of the game on
26 February 2021.
 He played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India
between 2007 and 2012.
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 He was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup as
well as the 2011 ODI World Cup, both of
which were won by the Indian team.
Walmart expands Vriddhi programme to UP
 Walmart has expanded its supplier
development programme Vriddhi to Uttar
Pradesh, by launching an e-Institute in Agra
to provide small businesses in Uttar Pradesh
skills and competencies.
 With the new e-Institute, Walmart is
expanding its Vriddhi Supplier Development
Program to empower 50,000 MSMEs across
India.
 Walmart opened its first Vriddhi e-Institute in
Haryana in October 2020.
ADB appoints Bruno Carrasco as Director Gen.
 The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has
appointed Bruno Carrasco as Director
General and concurrently Chief Compliance
Officer of its sustainable development and
climate change department.
 Carrasco has worked at ADB for more than
23 years.
 He was most recently Chief of ADB's
governance thematic group.
Carrasco has also worked at the United
Nations Office for Project Services.
Odisha CM launches slew of initiatives- I
 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
launched a slew of initiatives of the successful
5T mantra and Mission Shakti programmes
on 26 Feb 2021.
 The new steps are ‘Mo-Chhatua App’ for
streamlining supply chain management of
Take Home Ration (Chhatua); e-Kalika, an
application for monitoring crèches for children
under three; ‘Mo Sishu portal’, a
comprehensive web-based system, etc.
Odisha CM launches a slew of initiatives-II
 He also launched ‘emanadeya’ portal, for
seamless, paperless transfer of honorarium to
1, 34,758 AWWs, mini anganwadi workers
and helpers.
 The Women and Child Development
department also entered into a technical
collaboration with CFTRI (Central Food
Technological Research Institute) for
improving the quality of THR (Take Home
Ration).
Infra.Market raises $100 million
 Infra.Market has raised $100 million in a
growth round led by Tiger Global, valuing the
procurement marketplace for construction
materials at $1 billion.
 Founded in 2016, the Mumbai-based
company operates as a one-stop marketplace
for real estate and construction materials.
 It also focuses on high-volume construction
products under its own brands and aims to
solve existing issues.
Indian company to set up a plant in Bangladesh
 An Indian company Omega Seiki will set up
an electric vehicle plant in Bangladesh.
 The manufacturing unit will be set up near
Dhaka with an investment of Rs.100 cr.
 It is the first project of any Indian company
producing electrical vehicles in the
international market.
 The project will be a modern greenfield facility
and will focus on manufacturing 2 and 3-
wheelers, and electric bicycles.
Michael Somare passes away
 Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister,
Michael Somare passed away in Feb 2021.
 Known as the “father of the nation”, Somare
led the nation to independence from Australia
in 1975 and served four times as the Prime
Minister.
 Prior to independence, he was the CM of the
Australian-administered territory of Papua
New Guinea.
 He most recently served as the country’s
leader briefly in 2011.
FB signs deals with 3 Australian publishers
 Facebook has announced preliminary
agreements with three Australian publishers.
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 Letters of intent had been signed with
independent news organizations Private
Media, Schwartz Media and Solstice Media.
 These agreements will bring a new slate of
premium journalism, including some
previously paywalled content, to Facebook.
ICOLD Symposium on Sustainable Development
 The International Commission on Large Dams
(ICOLD) Symposium on Sustainable
Development of Dams and River Basins was
inaugurated on 24 February 2021.
 It is being held from 24-27 Feb 202 in
collaboration with Central Water Commission
(CWC), Dam Rehabilitation Improvement
Project (DRIP) and National Hydrology
Project (NHP).
 More than 300 delegates participated in it.
Over 1,000 extremists lay down arms in Assam
 Over 1,000 militants laid down weapons
before Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda
Sonowal on 23 Feb 2021.
 The rebels, belonging to five groups that were
active mostly in the hill district of Karbi
Anglong, had declared a unilateral ceasefire
with the government earlier.
 All communities in Karbi Anglong are living
together peacefully.
State of School Feeding Worldwide report
 One in two schoolchildren, or 388 million
children worldwide, were receiving school
meals when the pandemic struck, the highest
number in history.
 This was stated in the State of School
Feeding Worldwide report by the United
Nations World Food Programme
 By April 2020, 199 countries had closed their
schools and 370 million children were
suddenly deprived of a nutritious meal of the
day.
Maharashtra govt to launch a scheme on March 8
 In a bid to empower women in rural
Maharashtra, the state government
has announced the Mahasamruddhi Mahila
Sashaktikaran scheme.
 It will be launched on March 8, 2021. work and encourage greater participation
 Under the scheme, self-help groups will across fields.
organise exhibitions to display rural women’s  Members of women cells at the village level
will also be involved.

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