Current Affairs – February 15, 2021 [Today’s News Headlines]
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for February 15, 2021
INDIA
PM hands over Main Battle Tank Arjun Mk1A to the Army in Chennai
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2021 handed over the state-of-the-art indigenous Main Battle Tank Arjun Mk1A to the Army. Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane received the tank. The Arjun Mk-1A has been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured by Chennai-based Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE).
PM inaugurates Chennai Metro Phase-I extension
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2021 inaugurated the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension project, which has been completed at a cost of Rs 3,770 crores. The 9.05 km long extension will link north Chennai with the Airport and Central Railway Station.
PM inaugurates 4th railway line between Chennai beach and Attipattu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2021 inaugurated the fourth railway line between Chennai beach and Attipattu. This 22.1 km section, laid at a cost of ₹293.40 crore, traverses through Chennai and Tiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu.
PM lays foundation stone for renovation of Grand Anicut Canal in system in TN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2021 laid the foundation stone for the extension, renovation and modernisation of the Grand Anicut Canal System. The canal is important for irrigation in the Cauvery Delta districts of Tamil Nadu. The modernisation of this canal will be taken up at a cost of ₹2,640 crore.
PM lays foundation stone for Discovery Campus of IIT-Madras
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2021 laid the foundation stone for the Discovery Campus of IIT Madras. The Campus will be built at Thaiyur near Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crores in the first phase, over an area of 2 lakh sqm.
PM inaugurates petrochemical complex of BPCL in Kochi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2021 dedicated a Rs 6,000 crore petrochemical complex of oil major Bharat Petroleum in Kochi, Kerala and Ro-Ro vessels of Inland Waterways at Willingdon Islands to the nation.
PM inaugurates Ro-Ro vessels of Inland Waterways Authority in Kochi, Kerala
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2021 inaugurated Ro-Ro vessels of Inland Waterways Authority at Willingdon Islands in Kochi Kerala. The two new Roll-on/Roll-off vessels will be deployed between Bolgatty and Willingdon Island on National Waterway-3.
PM inaugurates Cochin Port Trust’s International Cruise Terminal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14, 2021 inaugurated the Cochin Port Trust’s International Cruise Terminal and Cochin Shipyard’s Vigyana Sagar, a campus for Marine Engineering Training Institute.
India’s 27.37% prison inmates ‘illiterate’, 5,600+ hold a technical degree/diploma
Around 1,32,729 (27.37%) of the 4,78,600 prison inmates in the country are “illiterate” while 5,677 hold a technical degree or diploma, according to Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) data. The prison statistics presented by Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy recently in Parliament were based on a compilation of data by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) updated till December 31, 2019.
Economy & Corporate
Vehicles without FASTags to pay double on highway toll plazas after Feb 15
Any vehicle that passes through national highway toll plazas after February 15 must pay twice the charges if it does not have a FASTag, the ministry of road transport and highways said in an order on February 14, 2021.
Govt eases curbs on steel for highway construction to reduce cost
Doing away with restrictive conditions for use of steel in highways construction, the government on February 14, 2021 announced that all kinds of steel will be allowed for highways provided these meet the quality parameters. Earlier, the contract provisions required use of steel produced by primary or integrated steel producers only. The move is aimed at ensuring cost reduction in highways construction using steel.
World
US Senate acquits former President Donald Trump in impeachment trial
Former U.S. President Donald Trump was on February 13, 2021 acquitted by the U.S. Senate in the impeachment trial of inciting an insurrection with regard to the January 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters seeking to stop the certification of the Electoral College results.
UAE’s “Hope” probe sends its first image of Mars
The UAE’s “Hope” probe sent back its first image of Mars, the national space agency said on February 14, 2021, days after the spacecraft successfully entered the Red Planet’s orbit. The probe captured the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, emerging into the early morning sunlight.
Pakistan Army holding month-long exercise codenamed ‘Jidar-ul-Hadeed’
The Pakistan Army is holding a month-long exercise in the Thar Desert in Sindh province to prepare for conflict in an extreme desert environment. The exercise, codenamed ‘Jidar-ul-Hadeed’, began on January 28 and is scheduled to conclude on February 28.
Sports
Ravichandran Ashwin becomes 2nd highest wicket-taker in tests in India
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (266 wickets) on February 14, 2021 surpassed Harbhajan Singh (265 wickets) to become the second highest wicket-taker in Tests played in India on the second day of the second test of the four-test series against England in Chennai. Anil Kumble is the leading wicket-taker in Tests in India with 350 scalps.
Germany’s Bayern Munich win 2020 FIFA Club World Cup football tournament
Germany’s Bayern Munich defeated Mexico’s Tigers 1-0 in the final played at Doha on February 11, 2021 to win the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup football tournament. Benjamin Pavard scored for Bayern Munich. Six continental confederations and the host nation’s league champions participate in the tournament every year.
Priyanka Goswami shatters national record in women’s 20-km walk in 1:28:45
Priyanka Goswami (25) shattered the national record in women’s 20-km walk at the 4th international race walking championship in Ranchi on February 13, 2021 with a timing of 1:28:45. The previous record of 1:29.54 was held by Bhawna Jat and was created in 2020.
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Month: Current Affairs - February, 2021