GUJARAT
Replacement of Floodgates of Bhadar Dam Gujarat
The Central Water Commission’s dam safety organization recommended replacing the
sluices of the Bhadar Dam that was damaged in the 2015 flash flood. Located in Rajkot, the
Bhadar Dam is the second largest dam in the Saurashtra area, after Shetrunji Dam.
The Bhadar Dam is located on the Bhadar River in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Bhadar
is one of the main rivers in the Saurashtra peninsula of Guaratat. It originated near Wadi in
Rajkot Region, with an altitude of 261 m above mean sea level.
The river flows through the Saurashtra region and finally merges with the Arabian Sea at
Naviobandar (Porbandar). The total length of the river is 198 kilometers. Drainage occupies
about 1/7 of the Saurashtra.
Flash flood: Heavy rain is usually related to short-term high-intensity rainstorms. These are
sudden water level surges during or after heavy rainfall. These are highly localized events in
the short term, with high peaks, usually less than six hours between the onset of rainfall and
the onset of the flood peak. When drainage pipes are blocked or natural water flow is
blocked, the flood situation worsens.
Central Water Commission (CWC): The Central Water Commission is the highest technical
organization for water resources development in the country and an affiliated organization
of the Ministry of Water Resources.
INTERNATIONAL
China celebrates traditional ‘Lantern Festival’
China is celebrating its traditional Lantern festival.
Celebrated on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month, the Lantern Festival
traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year also known as ‘Spring Festival’ period.
In 2021, China ushered into Lunar New Year – the ‘Year of the Ox’ on 12th February.
The Lantern Festival is also the first full moon night in the Chinese calendar, marking the
return of spring and symbolizing the reunion of family.
Zero Discrimination Day: 01 March
Zero Discrimination Day is observed every year on 01 March.
The day aims at highlighting the urgent need to take action to end the inequalities
surrounding income, sex, age, health status, occupation, disability, sexual orientation, drug
use, gender identity, race, class, ethnicity and religion that are prevalent around the world.
It was first observed on March 1, 2014. Zero Discrimination Day is significant to
organizations such as UNAIDS that work in combating discrimination against people living
with HIV/AIDS.
Global Bio India 2021 2nd Edition
Union Minister unveiled the three-day "Global Bio India 2021".
The 2nd edition of the "Global Bio India-2021" has been unveiled.
The 3-day online event will showcase India’s strengths and opportunities in the field of
biotechnology to the country and the global community.
The theme for2021 is “Transforming lives” and the slogan is “Biosciences to Bio-economy”.
As one of the largest biotechnology stakeholder groups, the event was jointly organized by
the Department of Biotechnology, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Government
of India and its Public Sector Undertakings and the Biotechnology Industry Research
Assistance Council (BIRAC) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Association of
Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) and Invest in India.
NATIONAL
DGCA allows flight operators to give concessions in ticket prices to travellers who carry no
baggage
Directorate General of Civil Aviation, DGCA has allowed domestic flight operators to give
concessions in ticket prices to travellers who carry no baggage or only cabin baggage.
At present, a traveller can carry up to 7 kilograms of cabin baggage and 15 kilograms of
check-in baggage without having to pay any additional cost.
The new rule will allow airline operators to provide tickets at lesser prices to those who opt
to travel with no baggage or only with cabin baggage within the permissible weight limit.
The airlines will however have to prominently display the additional charges applicable in
case the passenger turns up with extra baggage.
Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme
The Government plans to replace the Technical Education Quality Improvement Program
(TEQIP) with the new program MERITE project. About the Technical Education Quality
Improvement Programme:
It was launched by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development in 2002 with the
assistance of the World Bank and is currently being implemented in phases.
It aims to improve the quality of technical education and strengthen the capacity of
institutions.
Technical Education Quality Improvement Programe III (TEQIP-III) was launched in 2017 and
will be completed in 2021.
It aims to develop technical education as a key component of improving the quality of
engineering education.
The objective is to improve the quality and fairness of engineering institutions in key states
(such as low-income states).
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2021 in West Bengal
The third and final stop of the 11th edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2021 was held in
Murshidabad, West Bengal. Local artists performed a variety of colorful performances,
including ‘Baul Gaan’, ‘Alkup Gaan’, ‘Leto gaan’, ‘Jhumuriya’ and Ranpa folk dances.
Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is a flagship festival of Ministry of Culture. Since 2015, the
event has been organized with the active participation of Seven Zonal Culture Centres.
The original purpose was to showcase the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage in one
place, namely Handicrafts, Cuisine, Painting, Sculpture and Performing Arts- Folk, Tribal,
Classical and Contemporary Art. Significance
ISRO successfully launches Brazil's Amazonia 1 satellite, along with 18 other passenger
satellites
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C51 (PSLV-C51) rocket loaded with 19 satellites from
Brazil, USA and India lifted off from the rocket port at Sriharikota.
After four stages of separation, the rocket launched Brazil's 637 kilogram Amazonia 1
satellite, its primary passenger.
Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of National Institute for Space Research
(INPE).
