1. IRCTC starts booking of ticket for third corporate train “Kashi Mahakal” Express.

• Indian Railway’s PSU IRCTC has started booking tickets for the third corporate train Kashi Mahakal Express. This train will run between Varanasi and Indore.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the train from Varanasi on 17 February. According to the Railway Ministry, the Indian Rail Catering and Tourism Corp's (IRCTC) Kashi Mahakal Express will be inaugurated on February 16 from Varanasi and it will start its commercial run from February 20.
• The train will operate thrice a week between Varanasi and Indore via Ujjain, Sant Hiradnagar (Bhopal), Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow/Prayagraj and Sultanpur.

Foot Notes:
About IRCTC
Headquarters: New Delhi
Parent organization: Indian Railways  

2. President Kovind presents President's Colour to Indian Navy's INS Shivaji.

• President Ram Nath Kovind presented President's Colour to Indian Navy's INS Shivaji at Lonavala on the occasion of Platinum Jubilee of this premier training establishment. The President’s Colour is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any military unit. INS Shivaji is commemorating 75 years of its glorious service to the Indian Navy this month.
• The Platinum Jubilee year celebrations started from 15th February last year. The establishment has trained more than two lakh officers and sailors, both Indian and International, since inception. All courses conducted at INS Shivaji are recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Foot Notes:
About Indian navy
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Karambir Singh
Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (DCNS): Vice Admiral M. S. Pawar
Founded: 5 September 1612

3. Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra in New Delhi renamed as “Sushma Swaraj Bhawan”.

• Government has decided to rename Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra in New Delhi as Sushma Swaraj Bhawan and Foreign Service Institute in the national capital as Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service.
• The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs on the eve of the birth anniversary of Mrs Swaraj. During her four decade long career, Sushma Swaraj was elected to the Lok Sabha four times and thrice to Rajya Sabha.
• She served as Minister for External Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, Parliamentary Affairs, Health and Family Welfare. She also served as Leader of Opposition in the Lower House.

Foot Notes:
About New Delhi
Lt Governor: Anil Baijal
Chief Minister: Arvind Kejriwal

4. Aviation security regulator BCAS has banned e-cigarettes on flights and airports.

• India’s Aviation security regulator BCAS has announced the ban on e-cigarettes in both domestic and international flights and at airports.
• BCAS in a circular said that e-cigarettes will not be allowed in both domestic and international flights as well as at airports. It also proposed a jail term for offenders up to one year and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
• In September last year, the Central government banned production, sale and import of e-cigarettes and similar products citing health risk to people, especially the youth.

Foot Notes:
About BCAS
Established in: January 1978
Parent organisation: Ministry of Civil Aviation (India).

5. Ladakh, Tamil Nadu paired under “Ek Bharath Shrestha Bharath” programme.

• Union Territory of Ladakh and Tamil Naidu have been paired under the Ek Bharath Shrestha Bharath programme. UT administration of Art, Culture and Languages Academy has organized a cultural exchange programme with the pair State Tamil Naidu.
• Ladakh has a unique cultural Identity and to showcase the rich and composite culture aspect of Ladakh, UT Administration of Art, Culture and Language Academy Leh under the Ek Bhart Shrestha Bhart programme have organized culture trip to Tamil Naidu.

Foot Notes:
Ladakh Lt Governor: R K Mathur
Tamilnadu Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
Tamilnadu CM: Edappadi K. Palanisamy

6. Manipur CM launches “Anganphou Hunba” programme at Arapti Mayai Leikai in Imphal East.

• Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched “Anganphou Hunba” (Early Paddy Crop) programme at Arapti Mayai Leikai in Imphal.
• The state government has prepared a 260-crore rupee project to provide irrigation facilities by pumping groundwater and is awaiting the Centre’s approval. Mr Biren Singh said, the government has also taken up steps to produce sufficient quantities of fishes by providing loans to 800 selected fish farmers.

Foot Notes:
Manipur Governor: Najma Heptulla
Formation: 21 January 1972

7. IndusInd Bank tops list of 'Highest increase in brand value' among global banks.

• IndusInd Bank has topped the list of 'Highest increase in brand value' among global banks, according to 'The Banker's Top 500 Banking Brands 2020' report. As per the Report, the brand value of Induslnd Bank has increased by 122% over the past 12 months, making it the highest placed for growth in brand value, across the globe. The bank reported total assets of Rs 3.1 lakh crore at the end of Quarter 3rd of FY20.

Foot Notes:
CEO: Romesh Sobti (from 1 Feb 2011)
Headquarters: Pune

8. Narayana Murthy's son-in-law “Rishi Sunak” appointed as UK's new Finance Minister.

• Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy's son-in-law, Rishi Sunak has been appointed as UK's Finance Minister. He replaced Pakistani Chancellor Sajid Javid. After the reshuffle, three Indian origin Members of Parliament are now a part of Britain's most diverse cabinet led by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
• The 47-year-old Priti Patel has been appointed as the Home Minister. The 51-year-old Alok Sharma has been appointed as the Business Secretary in the British Cabinet. Along with these three, 15 Indian-origin MPs are among 65 non-whites elected to the new 650-member House of Commons, reflecting 10 percent of its strength.

Foot Notes:
About U.K
Prime minister: Boris Johnson
Currency: UK Pound

9. Indian hockey captain “Manpreet Singh” named Player of the Year 2019 by IHF.

• The Indian men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh was named Player of the Year for 2019 by the International Hockey Federation.
• Manpreet, a midfielder, became the first Indian to win the accolade since the awards were introduced in 1999. He beat competition from Belgium's Arthur van Dorren and Lucas Villa of Argentina, who came second and third.

Foot Notes:
About IHF(International Hockey Federation)
Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland
President: Erwin Lanc
President: Hassan Moustafa
Founded: 11 July 1946

10. “Amit Panghal” ranked No 1 by IOC's Boxing Task Force rankings for Olympic Qualifiers.

• World silver-medallist Amit Panghal has been ranked number one in the 52 kilogram category for Olympic Qualifiers. This made him the first Indian pugilist in over a decade to achieve the global top position in the category. The list was released by the International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force ahead of next month's Olympic Qualifiers.
• The rankings took into account the last two world championships for both men and women and the continental championships and Games in 2019. Last year, he became the first Indian to claim a silver medal at the world championships after notching up a gold at the Asian meet.

Foot Notes:
About IOC(International Olympic Committee)
Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
President: Thomas Bach
Director-General: Christophe De Kepper
Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France

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