1. Today Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2021 marks the birth anniversary of Maratha king Shivaji and is celebrated on the same date every year. The day began to be celebrated as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti or Shiv Jayanti in 1870 by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule in Pune.
2. *Puducherry lieutenant governor Tamilisai Soundararjan has directed chief minister V Narayansamy to prove his majority in the House on February 22.*
3. *PM Modi will launch the ‘Mahabahu- Brahmaputra’, lay the foundation stone of Dhubri Phulbari Bridge and perform Bhumi Pujan for construction of Majuli Bridge Assam via video conferencing.*
4. Foundation stone for the four lane bridge over the Brahmaputra between Dhubri (on North Bank) and Phulbari (on South Bank). The proposed Bridge will be located on NH-127B, originating from Srirampur on NH-27 (East-West Corridor), and terminating at Nongstoin on NH-106 in the State of Meghalaya. It will connect Dhubri in Assam to Phulbari, Tura, Rongram and Rongjeng in Meghalaya.
5. *Delhi Poultry Markets To Open After Samples Test Negative For Bird Flu*
6. *In view of the rising COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, the district administration on Thursday announced a weekend lockdown in Amravati* . However, essential services will remain unaffected.
7. *Bollywood actor Sonu Sood who has been a pillar of support and strength to migrant workers amid the pandemic has reached out to the people of Varanasi and assured help* . Bringing a ray of hope to the families affected by the pandemic in Varanasi, the actor has decided to help 350 boatmen in the city by supplying them with essentials and fulfilling their monetary needs.
8. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday reiterated that the farmers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws will not return home until their demands are met.
9. *Delhi Transport department has started trial of contactless ticketing system in all the DTC buses through the ‘Chartr’ app,*
10. *The bypoll for the Karnataka Legislative Council seat, which fell vacant after untimely death of the Council deputy speaker S L Dharmegowda, will take place on March 15 the Election Commission* Result will on 18 March.
11. Metro man’ E Sreedharan, a much-admired technocrat who is credited with changing the face of public transport system in the country, will join the Bharatiya Janata Party giving a boost to the saffron party ahead of the assembly polls in Kerala.
12. *The exam dates of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 board exam 2021 and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main are clashing with each other as both are scheduled to be held in May.* To ensure right and equal opportunity for all the aspirants, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will arrange an alternative for the aspirants who will be writing their CBSE board examinations on the day the JEE (Main) is being held. These students will be given the dates of their preference.
13. *Pariksha Pe Charcha’ to be held online* : The Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said that the annual interaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the students called the ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ will be held online. The registration for the programe will start from February 18, 2021 and it will be concluded on March 14, 2021.
14. *An encounter broke out late on Thursday night between security forces and terrorists in Badigam village of Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir.*
15. *1971 War veterans honoured by Indian Army as part of ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh* ’ Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and senior army officials visited Major General C Venugopal at his residence and felicitated the nonagenarian.
16. *Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane flagged off the 100th K-9 Vajra-T during his visit to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Defence, Hazira, Surat*
17. *Coronavirus Cases:*
10,962,086
Deaths: 156,121
Recovered: 10,664,971
*✈INTERNATIONAL NEWS*
1. *India and Russia have agreed to work closely on key issues at the UN Security Council, in keeping with the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries*
2. *Foreign Ministers of India, Australia, Japan and US to meet to discuss free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.* The 3rd India-Australia-Japan-USA Ministerial Meeting will be held with participation of the respective Foreign Ministers.
3. The meeting will provide an opportunity to continue the useful exchange of views from their last meeting in Tokyo in October last year.
4. *India hosted the virtual health secretary-level meeting with the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).* The virtual meeting was held on February 18, 2021. During the meeting the members discussed the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
5. PM Modi’s proposals for visa regime for doctors, air ambulance pact has got support from all the participating countries including Pakistan. Indian initiative involved 10 countries in all-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka. Seven of these, barring Mauritius and Seychelles, are members of the SAARC grouping.
6. *The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a comprehensive economic cooperation and partnership agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius.*
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