? The Haryana government has decided to rename the Ambala City bus stand after former Union minister late Sushma Swaraj. The bus stand will now be called ‘Sushma Swaraj Bus Stand’.
? Sachin Tendulkar recently won the Laureus Sporting Moment Award (2000-2020). Tendulkar won this prize for a picture that shows team India carrying him on shoulders after winning 2011 ICC World Cup.
? The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee has revealed the official Games motto: “United by Emotion”. The motto emphasises the power of sport to bring together people from diverse backgrounds of every kind and allow them to connect and celebrate in a way that reaches beyond their differences.
? India observes Soil Health Card Day every year on February 19 because Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched first Soil Health Card same day on February 19, 2015. Farmers get detailed information about the health of their farm soil.
? The Goverment of India has signed USD 450 million loan agreement with the World Bank. The loan agreement of USD 450 million aims to support the national programme “Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY): National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme“. It will help the Union Government to curb the country’s depleting groundwater levels along with strengthening of the groundwater institutions.
? The State of India’s Birds 2020 Report highlights that numbers of House Sparrow have declined in urban areas while it is stable almost everywhere in the country. The report also informed that declining of suitable nesting points and lack of insects (food) are major reasons for its decline.
? Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched “Yodhav” (Warrior) mobile app (application) at Kochi, Kerala. Through this app, the public can inform police about drug abuse and its distribution. The application was introduced by the Kochi city police and the informer’s identity could be kept secret.
? The Government of India has decided to rename Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) as the ‘Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses’. Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi has been also renamed as Sushma Swaraj Bhawan and Foreign Service Institute.
? The Indian Space Research Organisation has revealed in its annual report for 2019-20 that it will launch 10 Earth Observation Satellites in 2020-21. The 10 earth observation (EO) satellites will include categories such as the first Geo Imaging Satellite, GISAT-1 along with three communication satellites and two navigation satellites.
? India is hosting FIFA U-17 Women’s Football World Cup 2020. The event will kick off on November 02, 2020. The five Indian cities that will host the event are – Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bhubneshwar and Guwahati.
? The World Day of Social Justice is observed globally on 20th February 2020 with an aim to promote gender equality and rights of the indigenous peoples and migrants.
? Avenue Supermarts, which is doing business as D-Mart, founder Radhakishan Damani has now become the 2nd richest Indian after Reliance Industries Ltd chairman Mukesh Ambani, with a net worth of $17.8 billion.
? Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 63-feet tall statue of former Bhartiya Jana Sangh leader Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya in Varanasi.
? Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated cultural arts and handicrafts exhibition named ‘Kashi Ek Roop Anek’ organized at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. ‘Kashi Ek Roop Anek’ showcased products from over 10,000 artisans from all over Uttar Pradesh.
? The Chief of the Defence staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat has announced the plan of establishing the first Integrated Tri-Services Command. The Integrated Tri-Services Command will be responsible for handing the air defence of the entire country.
? Sunil Kumar is India’s Greco Roman wrestler. He recently won the Gold Medal in Asian Wrestling Championships in the 87-kg category. He defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Azat Salidinov in the final round.
? Armand Duplantis of Sweden has set a new pole vault world record of 6.18 metres at the World Athletics Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix.
? Avenue Supermarts, which is doing business as D-Mart, founder Radhakishan Damani has now become the 2nd richest Indian after Reliance Industries Ltd chairman Mukesh Ambani, with a net worth of $17.8 billion.
? Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan recently announced that the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) would be set up by first week of April 2020 under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
? Asian Wrestling Championship 2020 starts in New Delhi. It will be held at the KD Jadhav Hall of Indira Gandhi Stadium. The event will have a total of 30 weight classes, 10 each in Freestyle Men, Women, and Greco Roman.
? India and Norway have formed joint working groups on Blue economy with sustainable development.
? Asian Wrestling Championship organized by Asian Associated Wrestling Committee (AAWC). In 1979 men’s tournament began and in 1996 women’s tournament was first staged, after that, it is held every year.
? Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated India Pavilion at GulFood 2020, Dubai, and held discussions with food companies over the potential of business opportunities in India.
? Uttar Pradesh government had launched the ambitious scheme ‘One District, One Product’ (ODOP) in which one craft per district was identified.
? Pakistan has successfully test-fired conducted nuclear-capable cruise missile Ra’ad-II. This missile can hit a target in 600 km of range. Pakistan claimed that this missile can boost the military’s capability on land and at the sea.