BIHAR
CM Nitish Kumar demands special status for Bihar at EZC meeting
Amid reports of growing bonhomie between leader of opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and CM Nitish Kumar, the latter reiterated his demand for special category status to the state at the 24th Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah in Bhubaneswar.
The states, which are given special status, have progressed on development scale. Therefore, a new policy framework is needed to bring all the backward states to the national mainstream in terms of development.
The CM also drew the attention of Shah towards Bihar’s pending dues of Rs 911.82 crore with the erstwhile Planning Commission under the special plan (Backward Region Grant Fund) and urged him to ask the NITI Aayog (which was formed in place of Planning Commission) to send the amount to Bihar at the earliest.
Nitish also demanded allotment of Rs 1,000 crore per year to Bihar under the Centre’s project ‘Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India’ project to enhance agriculture output in the state. He called for formulation of National Silt Management Policy to maintain uninterrupted flow of the Ganga water and check floods in the region.
INTERNATIONAL
Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as Malaysia’s new Prime Minister
In Malaysia, the King has appointed seasoned politician Muhyiddin Yassin as the new Prime Minister.
The appointment came after this week’s shock resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a move that plunged the country into crisis following a weekend of political wrangling and the collapse of the ruling alliance.
The announcement came hours after Mahathir struck a new deal to work with his former ruling alliance led by rival Anwar Ibrahim.
World Defence Day is celebrated on 1 March
World Defence Day is celebrated on 1 March 2020. The day is observed to raise awareness of public protection from natural and technogenic disasters and rescue service work.
World Civil Defense Day was instituted by the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990. It commemorates the day when the ICDO Constitution came into force as an intergovernmental organization in 1972.
ICDO was established by French Surgeon-General George Saint-Paul in 1931 in Paris. It was recognized by the French Parliament in June 1935 and in 1972 it achieved the status of an intergovernmental organization.
World economy faces worst performance since the past decade
Bank of America Corporation (BofA) economists stated that the world economy is heading for its worst performance since the 2009 financial crisis. The decline is due to the increasing spread of coronavirus across the world. The economists stated that they are expecting 2.8% global growth in 2020, which is the weakest since 2009. The forecast did not include a global pandemic that would basically shut down economic activity in many major cities.
NATIONAL
Indian Railways launches its First ‘Restaurant on Wheels’
Indian Railways has launched its first ”Restaurant on Wheels” at the circulating area of Asansol railway station for the use of passengers as well as the general public.
The Restaurant on Wheels was developed by refurbishing two over-aged MEMU coaches.
This unique effort will not only improve the facilities at Asansol station but will also generate non-fare revenue earnings approximately Rs 50 lakh in the next five years.
EKAM fest was inaugurated in New Delhi
Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot inaugurated the “Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, Awareness, Marketing (EKAM) Fest”. The fest is being held from 28 February to 6 March in New Delhi.
EKAM Fest aims to promote entrepreneurship among the Divyangjan community and raise awareness about the potentialities of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). It provides an opportunity for all to encourage these products made with extraordinary determination by the divyang craftspersons and entrepreneurs.
Tourism Ministry launched multilingual Incredible India website
Ministry of Tourism revamped the multilingual Incredible India website design to provide more information about India’s tourist destinations, attractions, experiences, and where the value lies.
Incredible India 2.0 website aims to showcase the varied tourism products of India by providing visitors with relevant, personalized and contextual digital experience escalating tourism awareness, attraction, and opportunities.
Incredible India website project was launched by the Ministry of Tourism.
The promotional website aims to project India as a ‘must-visit’ destination across the globe.
Minister Amit Shah inaugurated NSG Regional Hub at Kolkata
Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah inaugurated the National Security Guard (NSG) Regional Hub campus at Kolkata, West Bengal. It aims to provide adequate facilities to the brave NSG jawans. He also various welfare projects for NSG, amounting to over Rs. 245 crores, across Kolkata, Manesar, Chennai, and Mumbai. It will ensure to boost the capabilities of the force and raising the morale of the jawans.
NSG Regional Hub campus is worth over Rs.162 crores.
The Residential and Non Residential complexes can house 460 persons and families, office accommodation and modern training facilities including Baffle firing range, indoor shooting ranges swimming pool, sports complex, and artificial rock craft wall, etc. 