Current Affairs Feb 2016 - Places in NEWS
News 1 - 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela started at Faridabad.
On February 1, 2016, the 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela started in Surajkund of Faridabad. The Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated this event. At least 23 countries will take part in it, China and Japan being the major ones. The theme state in this year’s mela is Telangana. The Mela is organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism.
News 2 - PM Modi Inaugurates Petrochemical Project in Dibrugarh.
On February 06, 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a petrochemical project in Lepetkata in Dibrugarh (Assam). The project is named as Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd (BCPL).
The total cost of the project is around 10000-crore rupees and it will be producing raw material for manufacturing plastic. The Prime Minister also dedicated India’s highest wax producing unit in Numaligarh Refinery Limited to the nation.
News 3 - International Fleet Review 2016 kick starts in Vizag.
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh kick started the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016, an international military exercise hosted and conducted by Indian on February 04, 2016.
The theme of this edition on IFR is “United Through Oceans.” The major objective of the exercise is to enhance mutual trust and confidence with neighboring Navy’s. The last IFR was held by the Indian Navy in 2001 in Mumbai, Maharashtra in which 29 countries from across the globe had participated.
News 4 - Zimbabwe's President declares a state of disaster in rural parts of the country.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe announced a state of disaster hit by a drought on February 05, 2016 in rural parts of the country.
The declaration was made days after the European Union urged Mugabe to do so. This declaration of disaster will let the international organizations to raise and donate money quickly to provide food aid to the nation.
News 5 - Indian Navy's International fleet review 2016 concludes in Vizag.
The Indian Navy's International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016 ended in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on February 09, 2016. Navy personnel from 50 nations participated in this five-day event.
It was also attended by our President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PM vowed to make Indian Navy a recognized force in the world. The event is aimed at establishing mutual understanding among various naval forces.
News 6 - The 3rd Edition of Taj Literature Festival held in Agra.
The 3rd edition of the Taj Literature Festival began in Agra (UP) on February 10, 2016. It was a 3-day long festival and did not have any particular theme.
This edition will have 16 categories ranging from music, theater, politics, women cooking and comedy among others. This edition will have 16 categories ranging from music, theater, politics, women cooking and comedy among others etc.
News 7 - The 6th National Science Film Festival Begins in Mumbai.
The 6th National Science Film Festival & Competition (NSFF) began on February 09, 2016 at the Nehru Science Center in Mumbai. The event is aimed at popularizing science among kids and youth through motion pictures.
This festival was initiated by Nehru Science Centre and Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It showcased key scientific movies.
News 8 - Narendra Modi opens ‘Make in India’ center in Mumbai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Make in India Centre at Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai on February 13, 2016. The Make in India week concluded on February 18, 2016.
The centre is dedicated to the Make in India campaign that focuses and asks companies to produce their products in India. PM Narendra Modi has urged all to make India a manufacturing hub of the world.
News 9 - Mahamagam festival celebrated in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.
The Mahamagam festival that comes once in 12 years in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu is underway from February 13, 2016 and thousands of devotees are took the holy dip in the Mahamagam tank.
It is often termed as equivalent to the grand religious event Kumbh Mela that takes place in Allahabad. The gathering and celebrations are of the nature of Kumbh Mela as well.
News 10 - Tamil Nadu to start free bus pass scheme for senior citizens.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced free bus service for senior citizens in Chennai on February 18, 2016. Karnataka was the first state to do so.
Making the statement, Jayalalithaa said that the scheme will come to effect from February 24, 2016 which is also her 68th birthday. This initiative is aimed at making journey for the senior citizen’s hassle free and enjoyable.
News 11 - The 58th Grammy's Award 2016 ceremony starts in California.
The 2016 Grammy Awards took place on February 15, 2016, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The Grammy Awards are considered to be one of the top award categories in the domain of music worldwide.
The ceremony recognizes the best contributions to the music industry, including recordings, compositions and artists of the eligibility year, which was from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015.
News 12 - Mumbai to host BRICS Summit 2016.
Mumbai will host the BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave, on April 14. The three-day conclave of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is another important event after Make in India week.
Delegations representing at least two cities from each BRICS country will visit the city during April 14-16, and discuss aspects of urbanization for Mumbai. It is considered to be a very important international event.
News 13 - Mercer's Finding - Hyderabad best city in India in terms of quality of living.
As per the Mercer's Quality of Living rankings 2016 published on February 23, 2016, Hyderabad remains the best city in India in terms of quality of living the second time in a row. Hyderabad globally ranks at the 138th position in a list of 230 cities around the world in terms of standard of living.
Internationally, Vienna has topped, as the city with the best quality of living. Vienna is followed by Zurich, Auckland, Munich, Vancouver and Dusseldorf.
News 14 - Katni will have the longest railway bridge in India.
It was announced on February 21, 2016 that Katni in Madhya Pradesh to have India’s longest railway bridge of 14 kms in length. This bridge will be the only one to be built by all Indian engineers.
The designing and survey of the bridge is over and a 5-year timeframe has been scheduled for completion and its expected cost is said to be around 600 crores. The timeframe has not been set yet, as far as planning and implementation is concerned.
News 15 - Haryana to become the first state in India to have Aquifer Mapping.
To find out the exact location of the Aquifer rocks to locate groundwater resources, a new mapping technique is to be introduced in Haryana by May. This was announced on February 16, 2016 and it is going to be the first of its kind in India.
An aquifer is a layer of water-bearing rock, from which groundwater can be extracted. The mapping will help in estimating the quantity and quality of groundwater.
News 16 - Pakistan's Parliament - World's first to run entirely on solar power.
According to a report published on February 14, 2016, Pakistan's parliament became the first in the world to run entirely on Solar power. First announced in 2014, the venture has been funded by the Chinese government as an act of friendship, with the solar power plant costing around USD 55 million. The project was launched in 2015 when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited and addressed the parliament.
News 17 - First Knowledge Economy Zone (KEZ) in Amravati, Andhra Pradesh.
The Andhra Pradesh government and the Confederation of India Industry (CII) announced on February 23, 2016 that they will establish the first Knowledge Economy Zone (KEZ) in Amravati, Andhra Pradesh.
It is aimed to progress the economy of this region. Andhra Pradesh is renowned for making Hyderabad a global city in an earlier initiative. This initiative will do something similar to Amravati, the CM of the state said.
News 18 - Naval Exercise IBSAMAR 2016 between India, South Africa, Brazil kicked off in Goa.
The fifth edition of IBSAMAR 2016 trilateral naval exercise between Brazil, India and South Africa started on February 23, 2016 in Goa.
IBSAMAR means India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime in short. It is a joint naval exercise of the nations, whose names are included in the name of the exercise. The PM and President of India attended and gave a speech as well in this event.
News 19 - India approves $150 million credit line for Iran’s Chabahar port.
India has approved a $150 million credit on February 24, 2016 for the development of Iran’s Chabahar port. This port is instrumental for India to circumvent arch-rival Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan.
The initiative paves a new way in bilateral relationships of India with Iran. This development is being considered a breakthrough in terms of relationship with Iran.
