1. Government of India and World Bank Sign $250 Million Agreement for the National Rural Economic Transformation Project

• The World Bank and the Government of India signed a $250 Million Agreement for the National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP) which will help women in rural households shift to a new generation of economic initiatives.
• A Key Focus of the Project will be to promote women-owned and women-led farm and non-farm enterprises across value chains; enable them to build businesses that help them access finance and generate employment.
• The Project will continue to give technical assistance, skills building and investment support to strengthen women-owned and women-led producer.

2. Indian Bank receives Best Bank Award

• Public sector Indian Bank has bagged the Best Bank Award from the Tamil Nadu government for meeting the needs of women's self-help groups (SHGs).
• At a function in Salem recently, Chief Minister of the state K Palaniswami handed over the award to the executive director of the bank M K Bhattacharya.
• Salem district collector Rohini and senior officials of the bank were present on the occasion

3. ‘Azaadi Ke Diwane’ museum inaugurated at Red Fort

• Union Minister Mahesh Sharma inaugurated ‘Azaadi Ke Diwane’ museum, dedicated to the unsung heroes of the country’s freedom struggle, on the Red Fort premises.
• Built by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the museum is the fifth in a series of recently inaugurated ones — the others being the Subhash Chandra Bose and INA museum, the Yaad-e-Jallian museum.
• This new museum ‘Azaadi ke Diwane’ is started in the series of Kranti Mandir to inspire the younger generation and let them know the cost of freedom that the great fighters achieve by sacrificing their lives.

4. US, South Korea Call Off Foal Eagle and Key Resolve Exercises

• The United States and South Korea, announced the inauguration of a new exercise known as Dong Maeng.
• The exercise was announced as a modification of the springtime exercises the allies have held in recent years known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle.
• The Dong Maeng exercise will run from March 4 to March 12 and focus primarily on “strategic, operational, and tactical aspects of general military operations on the Korean Peninsula.

5. Tripura government launches Notun Disha initiative to provide training to teachers

• Tripura government has announced to distribute laptops to 800 school teachers under the Notun Disha (new direction)initiative.
• The Notun Disha is a one-month project to provide training to teachers.
• ‘Notun Disha’ is aimed at making the students efficient and capable in all subjects from the 3rd to 8th standard

6. Assam’s hailakandi became the top aspirational district

• According to the Delta ranking report released by NITI Aayog, Assam’s Hailakandi has become the top aspirational district among the 112 aspirational districts of the country.
• Hailakandi in Assam has made a giant leap from 52nd position to no. 1 position on the basis of its performance during November-December 2018 and January 2019.
• For securing the first rank as an aspirational district, Hailakandi will be given an allocation of Rs. 10 crore.

7. Controversial Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah re-elected Asian Olympic chief

• Kuwait's Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was re-elected president of the powerful Olympic Council of Asia
• An IOC member, stepped down from his position in the global Olympic body in November because of his forgery accusation in a criminal court against the Kuwaiti and four others.
• Sheikh Ahmad, considered a major powerbroker in world sport, won a new five-year term until 2024.