• Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair has been appointed as the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• He will succeed S Somanath, who recently took over as the chairman of ISRO.
• He is currently serving as the director of Human Space Flight Centre.
• He joined VSSC in 1985 and held many important positions like first project director, Human Space Flight Project deputy director, VSSC programme director, etc

• Safer Internet Day is observed every year on the second day of the second week of February with the aim of providing a safer and better internet, where every user gets to use the internet responsibly and without getting their data leaked. This year February 8 is being celebrated as Safer Internet Day across the world. This year marks the 19th edition of Safer Internet Day with actions taking place right across the globe.
• This year, the occasion is being marked under the theme ‘Together for a better internet’, calling upon all stakeholders to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, and especially for children and young people.

• Maldives has announced that Visa-free entry for Indian business travellers to the island nation, comes into effect.
• It will be effective from 1st February.
• It has commenced the process of granting Indian Nationals visa free entry for business purposes, for a period not exceeding the visa free period of 90 days.
• As part of the reciprocal arrangement, multiple entry, non-resident, business visa will be granted for Indian Nationals for 90 days within 6 months.

• Ministry of Culture will organize 2-Day online Global Summit on ‘Reimagining Museums in India’ under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• It will be held on 15th and 16th February 2022.
• It will bring together leading experts and practitioners of museum development and management field.
• It is being organized in partnership with Bloomberg.
• It will encompass four broad themes: Architecture and Functional Needs, Management, Collections and Education and Audience Engagement.

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced new partnership under Sustainable Access to Markets and Resources for Innovative Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) initiative.
• It will improve access to affordable and quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, rural and tribal regions.
• It will enhance SAMRIDH’s efforts to reach vulnerable populations, leveraging AIM expertise.

• AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has launched dedicated storefront for Ayurveda products on Amazon in the marketplace.
• This Ayurveda product storefront will enhance the visibility of unique Ayurveda products like skin-care supplements, immunity boosters, oils, juices and more from small businesses and startup brands
• It will make shopping easier as product selection has been done according to focus areas and health benefits like pain management, immunity boosters, etc

• Scientists has developed new technology, platform for fluorometric detection of pathogens (viruses) by measurement of fluorescent light emitted.
• The new technology has been demonstrated for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.
• It can also be used to detect other DNA/RNA pathogens like HIV, influenza, HCV, Zika, Ebola, bacteria, and other mutating pathogens.
• This work has been published recently in the journal ‘ACS Sensors’ and team has also filed patent for novel technology.

• India has scored highest on digital readiness among 19 countries that were surveyed as part of Salesforce Global Index.
• The index measures global employee sentiments and readiness to acquire key digital skills needed by businesses today and over next 5 years.
• India had highest digital readiness score of 63 out of 100, with 72% of respondents as they were actively learning digital skills to prepare themselves for the future of work.

• West Bengal government has launched ‘Paray Shikshalaya’, which is an open-air classroom in the neighbourhood programme for students from class 1 to 7.
• Aim: to encourage students who dropped out of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic to continue their education.
• Initially, it was meant for primary school students from class 1 to 5.
• Students are being called in batches and arrangements for mid-day meals have also been made for the students taking neighbourhood classes.

• Actor-athlete Praveen Kumar Sobti, best known for playing Bheem in the TV series “Mahabharat” and for winning an Asian Games gold medal, passed away. He represented the country across various athletic events in hammer and discus throw and even won four medals at the Asian Games, including two gold medals in 1966 and 1970.
• Praveen Kumar Sobti also won a silver medal in Hammer Throw during the 1966 Commonwealth Games. The athlete gained further popularity after he began his acting career and was featured as Bheem in BR Chopra’s classic “Mahabharat” in 1988.

Download Daily GK PDF of 09 February 2022