Daily GK Update: 21st February 2021

Important Dates

International Mother Language Day is observed on 21st February every year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
It was proclaimed by UNESCO in November 1999 and first celebrated in 2000.
Theme 2021: Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society.
UN General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages
Idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh.

Summits & Conferences

PM Narendra Modi has addressed 6th Governing Council of NITI Aayog focusing on the need of policy framework and cooperation between Centre and state.
Meet saw 6 key focus areas: making India a manufacturing powerhouse, reimagining agriculture, improving physical infrastructure, accelerating HRD, improving service delivery at grassroots level and health and nutrition.
It was attended by 26 CM, 3 Lt Governors and 2 Administrators, apart from Union Ministers

Summits & Conferences

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has announced fourth Pariksha Pe Charcha 2021, to be conducted in March 2021.
It will be conducted in online under which PM Modi will be interacting with students from classes 9 to 12, parents, and teachers.
Students who wish to submit their queries to Prime Minister can do so by submitting their questions (up to 500 characters) on the official website.
It was conducted in Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi in 2020

State Affairs

PM Modi has launched multiple development project in Assam:
- Mahabahu-Brahmaputra: With outlay Rs 3,200 crore, it is aimed at improving road, waterway and digital connectivity
- 3 Ro-pax vessel operations between Neemati Ghat and Majuli Island, North Guwahati and South Guwahati, Dhubri and Hatsingimari
- Inland Water Transport Terminal at Jogighopa and various tourist jetties on Brahmaputra
- PANI (Portal for Asset and Navigation Information) and Car-D (Cargo Data) portal

International Affairs

United States (US) has officially rejoined Paris Agreement under Presidency of US President Joe Biden
US had officially exited the agreement on the order of the then President Donald Trump in November 2020.
Paris climate agreement was signed in 2015, in which countries are expected to enhance their commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions every 5 years to below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C
It is a legally binding agreement on climate change

Agreement

India signed 5 deals with Maldives to boost infrastructure in island nation:
- Remodel an older EXIM Bank of India Line of Credit of USD 25 million for Road Devt
- Letter of Intent for financing housing project
- Fish processing plant in Maldives
- Capacity building and exchange of content and expertise between Prasar Bharati and Maldives Media
- Sustainable urban development
Jaishankar also offered $40-million LoC to support sports infrastructure development in Maldives.

State Affairs

Union Minister, Prakash Javadekar has inaugurated Atal Paryavaran Bhavan at Lakshadweep during his 4-day official visit
Atal Paryavaran Bhavan: Lakshadweep forest department's headquarters
He also attended high level meetings with Secretaries of various depts, participated in various official programmes at Suheli, Kadmat and Bangaram islands.
Environmental permits have been issued for different tourism projects as part of NITI AYOG'S scheme in the three islands.

State Affairs

PM Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated key projects of power and urban sector in Kerala:
- 320 KV Pugalur-Thrissur Power Transmission Project: Voltage Source Inverter based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Project and has India's first HVDC link featuring VSC technology.
- 50 MW Kasaragod Solar Power Project, developed under National Solar Energy Mission.
- Integrated Command and Control Centre at Thiruvananthapuram.
- Smart Roads Project in Thiruvananthapuram

State Affairs

Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal has laid the foundation stone of the first skill university of eastern India in Darrang district, Assam.
It is the state-of-the art skill university that is to be built with financial outlay of Rs 1,000 crore.
It will impart training to over 10,000 students in 12 disciplines.
The university is expected to be completed by 2026
It will have understandings with countries like Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Japan, England

Agreement

India and Ethiopia signed two agreements related to visa facilitation and leather technology during 4-day visit of Ethiopia Deputy PM, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen to India
During the meet, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Ethiopian minister Hassen, agreed to expand India and Ethiopia bilateral agenda especially defence, economic, S&T, digital and cultural cooperation.
Capital of Ethiopia: Addis Ababa.
PM of Ethiopia: Abiy Ahmed Ali.