Why in news?

• Legendary singerLata Mangeshkar has passed away at the age of 92 after suffering a multi-organ failure. The Bharat Ratna awardee was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus disease in January. She is survived by her 3 sisters – Usha Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Meena Khadikar and brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar.

About the Lata Mangeshkar career:

• She began her career as a singer back in 1942and never looked back. She recorded innumerable songs in over 36 Indian and foreign languages.
• She gave us musical gems such as Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo, Lag Jaa Gale, Yeh Kahan Aage Hain Hum and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, among others.
• Having led an eventful and rich life of several milestones, Lata Mangeshkar was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1990.For her contribution to Indian music, she also was bestowed with Padma Bhushan in 1969 and Bharat Ratna in 2001.

Why in news?

• International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilationis observed on 6^th February 
• This day is sponsored by the United Nations for their efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation. It was first introduced in 2003.
• This year theme of International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female: Accelerating Investment to End Female Genital Mutilation.

About the Female genital mutilation:

• Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women.
• Girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health.

Why in News

• Chamba district has achieved 100 per cent targets under the Jal Jeevan Mission
• Under the mission, 99.41 per cent of the targets had been achieved while the remaining houses would be connected with the facility of ‘Har ghar nal se jal’ soon.

About Jal Jeevan Mission

• Jal Jeevan Mission, is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
• The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information.

Why in news?

• In line with National Hydrogen Mission, State gas utility GAIL (India) has commenced India’s first-of-its-kind project of mixing hydrogen into the natural gas system in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• The hydrogen blended natural gas will be supplied to Avantika Gas Ltd, one of GAIL’s joint venture with HPCL, for retailing of CNG to automobiles and piped natural gas to households in Indore, the company said in a statement.
• GAIL started injection of grey hydrogen at the city gate station (CGS), Indore.
• The grey hydrogen would subsequently be replaced by green hydrogen.

• Types of hydrogen
• Blue hydrogen is when natural gas is split into hydrogen and CO2. The CO2 is captured and then stored.
• Grey hydrogen is a similar process to blue hydrogen but the CO2 is not captured and is released into the atmosphere.
• Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced by splitting water by electrolysis using electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar. This produces only hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is used and oxygen is vented into the atmosphere with no negative impact.

Why in news?

• Senior scientist GA Srinivasa Murthyhas been appointed director of Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Hyderabad.
• He joined DRDL in the year 1987 and made significant contributions in the area of structural dynamics, ground resonance testing, electrical integration and checkout for various projects of the missile complex.

About DRDL

• DRDL is responsible for the design and development of state-of-the-art Missile Systems and technologies required for the deterrence and defence of the country. Systems and Technologies developed by DRDL are deployed on underwater, sea, land as well as air based platforms.
• DRDL is working on several technologies required for the Missiles and Strategic Systems including; Aerodynamics and Airframe Design, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Solid, Liquid, Ramjet and Scramjet Propulsion, Precision Fabrication, Systems Analysis, as well as the Command and Control systems for missile based weapon systems.

Why In News

• The Uttar Pradesh state tableau was adjudged as the best state tableau of Republic Day Parade 2022.
• The UP tableau 2022 showed Kashi Vishwanath Dham’s glorious history and achievements of the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
• Maharashtra state tableau was selected as the best in the popular choice category.
• The Maharashtra tableau depicted the five bio-diversity symbols of the state – state bird ‘Hariyal’, state animal ‘Shekru’ or the Indian giant squirrel, state tree ‘Mango’, state butterfly ‘Blue Mormon’ and state flower ‘Jarul’.
• The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was adjudged as the best marching contingent among the CAPF, while the Indian Navy was selected as the best marching contingent among the Services. The Indian Air Force contingent won in the popular choice category.
• The tableau of Ministry of Education and Ministry of Civil Aviation were declared as best tableau among Ministries.
• Every year, the defence ministry announces the best tableau among states and ministries and best marching contingent and the best cultural performance.
• A total of 21 tableau had participated in Republic Day Parade 2022 from 12 states and nine ministries and government departments.

Why in news?

• World Cancer Day is marked onFebruary 4th every year to raise awareness about cancer and encourage its early detection and prevention.
• According to World Health Organisation, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly one in six deaths.
• The World Cancer Day 2022 theme is “Close the Care Gap”. The theme aims to increase awareness about the inequities in cancer care. The theme has been launched as a three-year campaign.
• World Cancer Day Significance –As per recent studies, about one out of six people in the world die from cancer,which is more than the number of deaths caused by tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.
• In India alone, a 2020 WHO study revealed that one in every 10 Indians will develop cancer and one in every 15 will die. According to the study, India has a population of almost 1.35 billion reported around 1.16 million new cancer cases and 784,800 cancer deaths in 2018.
• Overall, India ranks third among nations in terms of the highest number of cancer cases. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has estimated a 12 percent rise in cancer cases in India by the next five years.

Why in news?

• The‘International Day of Human Fraternity’ is celebrated across the world on 4th February.
• The day aims to raise awareness about different cultures and religions, or beliefs, and the promotion of tolerance; and to educate people that tolerance, pluralistic tradition, mutual respect, and the diversity of religions and beliefs promote human fraternity.
• It also aims to educate people that tolerance, pluralistic tradition, mutual respect, and the diversity of religions and beliefs promote human fraternity.
• The first International Day of Human Fraternity was held in
• The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to declare 4 February as International Day of Human Fraternity on 21 December 2020. The Day is a part of the‘World Interfaith Harmony Week’, observed during the first week of February, as proclaimed by UN General Assembly in 2010.

Why in news?

• World Interfaith Harmony Weekis an annual event observed during the first week of February (1-7 February), after General Assembly designation in 2010.
• World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), was conceived to promote cultural peace and nonviolence. The World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative.
• This initiative, which started in 2007, called for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in a dialogue based on two common fundamental religious Commandments; Love of God, and Love of the Neighbour, without nevertheless compromising any of their own religious tenets.
• The Two commandments are at the heart of the three Monotheistic religions and therefore provide the most solid theological ground possible.
• World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote culture, peace and nonviolence, was first proposed byKing Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010.

Why in news?

• Chhattisgarh became the first State in the country to launch a financial assistance scheme –Rajiv Gandhi Bhumiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana, for the landless agri labourers.
• The scheme provisions payment of Rs 6,000 per year to landless agri labourers in three equal instalments.
• It is expected to benefit 3.55 lakh agriculture labourers of the State.
• Gandhi handed a Rs 2,000 cheque to some of the beneficiaries and the remaining ones got the amount transferred to their bank accounts.