Current Affairs – February 13, 2021 [Today’s News Headlines]

February 13, 2021

Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for February 13, 2021

INDIA

Inter-caste marriages the way forward to reduce communal tensions: SC

Educated youngsters are showing the way forward to reduce caste and community tensions in India by tying the knot in intermarriages, the Supreme Court said in a judgment. The judgment came in a case filed by a girl who had married a man against the wishes of her family. The investigating officer directed her to leave her husband and be present at the police station. The court quashed the case against the couple.

‘Respect Indian laws if you want to do business in India’: Centre tells Twitter

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Dinesh Trivedi announces resignation from Rajya Sabha

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Dinesh Trivedi announced his resignation from the Rajya Sabha on February 12, 2021, saying he feels suffocated in the House as he is unable to do anything for the violence going on in his state, West Bengal.

ISRO unveils draft “humans in space policy 2021”

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to tap startups and the local industry to build technologies for its human space programme. It unveiled a draft “humans in space policy 2021” that would look at facilitating participation of non-traditional players in undertaking space activities on February 12, 2021.

Tamil Nadu: 11 dead in fire accident at fireworks factory in Virudhunagar District

Eleven people died and 22 were seriously injured in an explosion at a firecracker unit in Achankulam village in Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu on February 12, 2021.

Economy & Corporate

Upper ceiling for family pension raised from Rs 45,000 to Rs 1,25,000 per month

Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the upper ceiling of family pensions for central government employees has been raised from Rs 45,000 to Rs 1,25,000 per month.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 1% for December 2020

The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew 1% for December 2020, showed the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The factory output in the country had contracted 1.9% in November and grew 0.4% in December 2019.

Consumer Price Index inflation eases 4.06% in January 2021

Consumer Price Index inflation (CPI) eased to 4.06% in January 2021, mainly on account of a decline in vegetable prices. The inflation based on CPI was 4.59% in December 2020 and 7.6% in January 2020.

Foreign exchange reserves decline by $6.24 billion to $583.94 billion

The country’s foreign exchange reserves declined by a massive USD 6.24 billion to reach USD 583.945 billion in the week ended February 5, 2021. Foreign currency assets (FCAs) decreased by USD 4.88 billion to USD 542.338 billion. The gold reserves decreased by USD 1.327 billion to USD 34.967 billion. The special drawing rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dipped by USD 6 million to USD 1.503 billion. The country’s reserve position with the IMF also declined by USD 27 million to USD 5.138 billion.

ISRO, MapmyIndia join hands to take on Google’s Maps, Earth products

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and location and navigation technology solutions provider MapmyIndia announced an initiative to partner together to offer India’s best, and fully indigenous, mapping portal and geospatial services. It combines MapmyIndia’s expertise in digital maps and technologies with ISRO’s catalogue of satellite imagery and earth observation data.

World

China releases video footage from its spacecraft circling Mars

China’s space agency released video footage from its spacecraft Tianwen-1 circling Mars two days after it successfully entered the planet’s orbit. The five-tonne Tianwen-1 includes a Mars orbiter, a lander and a solar-powered rover and was launched from southern China in July 2020.

US President revokes emergency order used to fund Mexico border wall project

United States President Joe Biden has revoked the national emergency order used to fund former President Donald Trump’s Mexico border wall project. In 2019, President Trump had declared a state of emergency over the southern border, which had allowed him to bypass Congress and use military funds for its construction.