Why in news?

• The world-famous Jaisalmer Desert Festival is also known as Maru Mahotsav of the Golden City began at Pokaran.
• The four-day-long festival started with colourful grand procession followed by Miss Pokaran and Mister Pokran competitions.
• Tourism department of Rajasthan associating with district administration is organising Maru Mahotsav this time after two years break due to spread of covid pandemic.
• Four days long festival comprises of various tourist-attracting competitions including Turban tying,  Panihari Matka , Mehandi and mandana competitions. Camel Safari and Camel beautification shows are also scheduled to be organized.
• Festival will conclude with Horse race, Camel dance and attractive firework display on 16^th of February.

Why in news?

• The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar jointly inaugurated the 14.5-kilometre long ‘Rail-cum-Road-Bridge’ in Bihar.
• The much-awaited bridge is constructed over the River Ganga on NH 333B in Bihar’s Munger region. The cost of the ‘Rail-cum-Road-Bridge’ project is Rs 696 crore.
• The new bridge will reduce travel time, give a boost to tourism, agriculture as well as generate employment opportunities.

Why in news?

• International Epilepsy Day is observed every year on the Second Monday of February across the world. In 2022, International Epilepsy Day falls on February 14, 2022.
• International Epilepsy Day seeks to raise awareness and educate the general public on the true facts about epilepsy and the urgent need for improved treatment, better care, and greater investment in research.
• The day is organised jointly by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) to raise awareness about epilepsy and highlight the kinds of problems faced by victims, their friends and family.
• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that makes a person go through sudden and recurrent episodes of sensory disturbances.

Why in news?

• In the 15th Edition of ESPN cricinfo Awards, India’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Rishabh Pant wins the ‘Test Batting’ award by scoring 89 not out, helped India to win the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2021 by (2-1) and shattered Australia’s unbeaten record at Gabba after 32 years.
• Rishabh Pant was the top scorer of the series for the Indian team, scoring (274 runs).

Other winners

• New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was adjudged ‘Captain of the Year’.
• The Test bowling award went to Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand)
• England fast bowler Ollie Robinson was named Debutant of the Year.
• Saqib Mahmood’s 4 for 42 in a nine-wicket win over Pakistan got him the top ODI bowling prize.
• Jos Buttler won the T20I batting award.
• Fakhar Zaman(Pakistan) won the ODI top batting prize.
• Shaheen Afridi won the T20I bowling award.

Why in news?

• Debashis Mitra has been elected as the President of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the year 2022-23.
• Mitra, who is serving his third term in ICAI Council, has been in the accounting profession for more than 34 years. Apart from being a Chartered Accountant, he is also a Cost Accountant and a Company Secretary. He holds a master’s degree in commerce and is also a law graduate as well as a qualified Information Systems Auditor.

About Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI)is the national professional accounting body of India. It was established to regulate the profession of Accountancy.
• It is the only licensing cum regulating body of the financial audit and accountancy profession in India.
• It recommends the accounting standards to be followed by companies in India to National Advisory Committee on Accounting Standards (NACAS).

Why in news?

• The Government has approved the continuation of the Scheme of Modernization of State Police Forces (MPF Scheme)for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Total Central financial outlay for five years is  26,275 crores.
• The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) since 1969-70.
• The objective of the scheme is to gradually reduce the dependence of the State Governments on the Army and the Central Armed Police Forces to control internal security and law and order situations by equipping the State Police Forces adequately and strengthening their training infrastructure.
• The focus of the scheme is to build cutting edge level police infrastructure by the construction of secure police stations, training centres, police housing (residential), equipping the police stations with the required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment and forensic set-up etc.

Why in news?

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday launched the first colour souvenir coin on ‘Panchtantra’ on the occasion of 17th foundation day of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL).
• The Panchtantra was authored by Vishnu Sharma during 200 BC. It is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose.
• About SPMCIL–
  • It is a wholly owned Schedule ’A’ Miniratna Category-I company of Government of India.
  • It is involved in the manufacture/ production of currency and bank notes, security paper, Non Judicial Stamp Papers, Postal Stamps and stationery, Travel Documents, Cheques, Bonds, Warrant, Special certificates with security features etc.

Why in news?

• The National Health Authority on Friday announced the integration of its flagship Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission with the Aarogya Setu app, allowing users to create the 14-digit unique Ayushman Bharat Health Account numbers from the app.
• This integration takes the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) number to the Aarogya Setu user base.
• People can use their ABHA number to link their existing and new medical records, including doctor prescriptions, lab reports and hospital records and also share those with health professionals and health service providers.
• Aarogya Setu app has a huge active user base and is already being used for COVID-19 related contact tracing to check risk factors, vaccine booking, certificate download and status check, among other things. This integration with ABDM will add another feature of generating ABHA numbers for the app users.

Why in news?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary.

About Deen Dayal Upadhyay

• He was a visionary and leader of Bharatiya Jan Sangh, forerunner of present day Bharatiya Janta Party.
• Contributions-
  • started the movement Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Pradhan( One Constitution, one Flag, One Prime Minister)
  • Publication- Journalist in ‘Rashtra Dharma’ daily, worked as editor for ‘Panchjanya’ and wrote a column named Political Diary for the weekly The Organiser’.
  • He established the publishing house ‘Rashtra Dharma Prakashan’ in Lucknow.
• His philosophies of ‘Integral Humanism’ and ‘Antyodaya’ provide inspiration to many to serve the nation and the downtrodden.

Why in news?

• As per the TomTom Traffic Index Ranking 2021,Mumbai has been ranked at 5th, Bengaluru at 10th in terms of the most congested cities in the world in 2021.
• Delhi and Pune ranked 11th and 21st among 404 cities across 58 countries, according to TomTom Traffic Index’s global top 25 lists.
• Istanbul, Turkey has been declared as the most congested city in the world as per the ranking. while Moscow came in second.
• The ranking covers 404 cities across 58 countries. The report said India’s congestion level in 2021 was 23% lower than pre-Covid times, with a decrease of 31% specifically during peak hours.
• In 2020, the traffic congestion in three Indian metros- Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi – made it to the top 10 list.