• The main tunnel of T-49 of Udhampur- Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has been connected successfully.
• It is constructed between Sumber and Arpinchala station of Katra-Banihal section USBRL
• It is the longest tunnel of Indian Railways.
• T-49 is a tunnel of length 12.758 km long and it is going to be the longest tunnel of Indian Railway.
• Peer Panjal Tunnel of 11.2 km length constructed by USBRL on the Banihal-Qazigund section is the 2nd longest tunnel.

• India will showcase its Agriculture and Food Processing prowess at EXPO 2020 Dubai.
• Dr. AbhilakshLikhi inaugurated the Food, Agriculture and Livelihood fortnight at the India Pavilion.
• The fortnight will showcase India’s prowess in sectors like food processing, horticulture, dairy, fisheries, and organic farming.
• India will exhibit investment opportunities in millets, organic farming, horticulture and dairy to investors worldwide.

• The Union Govt. approved a new scheme “New India Literacy Programme" during the FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of adult education and also to align with national education policy 2020
• The scheme will cover non-literates of the age of 15 years and above in the country.
• Now, Govt. has replaced the term “Adult Education (प्रौढ़ शिक्षा)” as ‘Education for All’ in the country.
• It will be implemented through volunteerism through online mode.

• The much-awaited water taxi service promising connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai has been unveiled by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
• The initiative will help in promoting tourism as well as reducing traffic congestion in the city.
• The WT services are expected to cut the commuting time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai by almost 45 minutes to an hour.
• The service will begin from Domestic Cruise Terminal at ferry wharf in Mumbai to Navi Mumbai destinations.

• NITI Aayog in association with PhonePe will launch the Fintech Open Hackathon.
• The Hackathon will provide an opportunity for innovators, digital creators and developers from all over India to think, ideate and code.
• It aims to showcase path-breaking solutions for the Fintech Ecosystem.
• The last date to register: 23rd February
• The winners of the Hackathon: 28th February

• The Reserve Bank of India extended the timeline by six months for Non-Banking Financial Companies to adhere to the new NPA recognition norms
• Earlier the regulator had set March 31 deadline for non-bank lenders to upgrade NPAs only after all arrears and principal dues are paid.
• NBFCs will have time till Sep 30 to put in place the necessary systems to implement this provision.
• Loans classified as NPA will be upgraded to the standard category only if all dues are paid.

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the Second Advance Estimates of production of major crops for the agricultural year 2021-22.
• As per the estimate the total foodgrains production in the country is pegged to reach an all-time record high of 316.06 million tonnes.
• The estimated foodgrains production for agricultural year 2021-22 (July-June) is 1.71 per cent higher than 310.74 million tonnes recorded in 2020-21.

• Chelsea have been won first FIFA Club World Cup by defeating Brazil’s Palmeiras in extra-time in the final in Abu Dhabi.
• Chelsea defeated South American counterparts in the final at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium by 2-1.
• The winner came from the penalty spot in the 117th minute.
• Chelsea Football Club is an English professional football club based in Fulham, West London.

• Haryana Men’s Team and Kerala Women’s Team became champions of 70th Senior National Volleyball Championship.
• The tournament was held at the Biju Patnaik Indoor Stadium, KIIT Deemed to be University.
• Haryana Men’s Team defeated Indian Railway 3-0.
• Likewise, the women team of Kerala lifted the trophy after outplaying the women team of Indian Railway 3-1.
• The Championship was jointly organized by Odisha Volleyball Association (OVA) & KIIT-DU, Bhubaneswar.

• Kannada writer and poet Dr Chennaveera Kanavi (94-years) passed away due to age-related illnesses at a private hospital in Dharwad.
• He was also known as ‘Samanvaya Kavi’ (Poet of Reconciliation).
• Dr Kanavi received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1981 for his work Jeeva Dhwani (Poetry).
• Katavi's first book, 'Kavyakshi', was published in 1949.

Download Daily GK PDF of 17 February 2022