Current Affairs Feb 2020 - Places in NEWS

1 - Jaipur city included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site

Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay dedicated the certificate regarding the inclusion of walled city of Jaipur in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to the people. She handed over the certificate to Urban Development Minister of the state Shanti Dhariwal.

UNESCO declared the Walled City of Jaipur world heritage site in July 2019 which is famous for its grid plan-based architecture and buildings constructed with the pink façade. The International Council on Monuments and Sites had earlier inspected the city in 2018 after its nomination.

2 - Defence Expo-2020 held in Lucknow

The 11^th edition of biennial Defence Expo-2020 was held in Lucknow. The main theme of the DefExpo India- 2020 was ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’ and the focus was on ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’.

Defence ministers of 40 countries and over 3,000 delegates from 70 nations attended the event. The first India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave was held during the DEFEXPO INDIA 2020. Over 200 partnerships involving Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), Transfer of Technology (ToTs), Product launches were concluded on the third day of DefExpo 2020, at ceremony tilted “Bandhan”.

3 - International Seafood Show in Kochi

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in association with the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), organized the 22^nd edition of India International Seafood Show (IISS) 2020 in Kochi from 7-9 February 2020.

The theme of this year’s seafood show was “Blue Revolution - Beyond Production to Value Addition”. The 21^st edition of IISS was held in Goa in January 2018.

4 - 5^th India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in Lucknow

The fifth India-Russia Military Industrial Conference was held on the sidelines of the Def Expo 2020 in Lucknow. Over 100 Russian and over 200 Indian industry leaders participated in the conference. 14 MoUs were signed between Indian and Russian companies under the Make in India initiative.

The MoUs were related to production of different defence equipment such as parts of T-72, T-90, radar systems, ASW Rocket launchers and 3D modeling. Major companies which are part of these MoUs includes BHEL, Bharat Dynamics Limited and Vista control from Indian side and INVERSIA, UVZ and BEML Ltd. from the Russian side.

5 - National Conference on e-Governance 2020 concluded

The National Conference on e-Governance 2020 concluded in Mumbai with deliberations on transforming governance using digital technologies. The theme was ‘India 2020: Digital Transformation’. The Mumbai Declaration on e-Governance was unanimously adopted on the final day. Declaration seeks to take forward the roadmap for e-Governance outlined in the Shillong Declaration of 2019.

In recognition of excellence in the implementation of e-Governance initiatives, the National e-Governance Awards 2020 were presented at the valedictory session.

6 - Two-day ‘Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking’ for BIMSTEC held in New Delhi

The BIMSTEC ‘Conference on Combating Drug Trafficking’ was held in New Delhi. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) organised the two-day conference. The conference aimed to provide an opportunity to all the member nations to deliberate on the increased threats posed by drug trafficking and the collective steps that were required to negate such threats.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation comprising seven countries — India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

7 - 2^nd BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercise 2020

The 2^nd Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC), Disaster Management Exercise (BIMSTEC DMEx-2020) was held at Puri, Odisha. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was the nodal agency of the exercise.

80 delegates from 05 member countries namely Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Nepal participated in the exercise. The complete exercise comprised of a Table Top Exercise (TTX), Field Training Exercises (FTXs) on Flood and an After-Action Review (AAR).

8 - First ever Jerusalem-Mumbai Festival held in Mumbai

The first-ever 'Jerusalem-Mumbai Festival' was held in Mumbai, Maharashtra to showcase the special links and promote artistic and cultural ties between India and Israel. The two-day festival screened Israeli famous cinema ‘The Mossad’, promoted artistic cooperation in the diverse fields of culture, created a platform for future fruitful cooperation among artists and demonstrated special fusion meals.

The festival created opportunities in various potential fields, such as tourism, cinema, high-tech. Jerusalem has become an international cultural centre and source of inspiration for creators and artists.

9 - Chitra Bharati Film Festival held at Ahmedabad

The three day long Chitra Bharati Film Festival (CBFF) was held at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad. It was the third edition of the festival - the first was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in 2016, and the second at Delhi’s Siri Fort Auditorium in 2018.

The themes for the festival include Bharatiya culture and values, constructive work, Bharatiya family, social harmony, folk art, water, trees and cleanliness, women, national security, valour, nationhood and education for nation building. The aim of this film festival is to establish a ‘Bharatiya’ narrative in Indian cinema.

10 - International Judicial Conference 2020

The International Judicial Conference 2020 was held in New Delhi. The theme of the conference was 'Judiciary and the Changing World'.

Important Topics of discussion at the Conference included:

Gender Justice,
Contemporary Perspectives on Protection of Constitutional Values
Dynamic Interpretations of the Constitution in a Changing World
Harmonisation of Environment Protection vis-à-vis Sustainable Development and
Protection of Right to Privacy in the Internet Age

11 - Difficult Dialogues 2020 began in Goa

The 5^th edition of Difficult Dialogues was held in Panji, Goa. Difficult Dialogues is an annual forum examining issues of contemporary relevance in South Asia. The theme of Difficult Dialogues 2020 was “State of Law”. Various global experts, policymakers and community -level workers discussed on issues related to law and the legal framework.

Dialogues 2020

Accountability v/s Independence Of Judiciary: Is the Balance Right?
After the Aadhar Judgment: Do Individuals Have the Right To Privacy In India?
Discrimination Law and Minorities: Is Justice Done?
Reforms in the Administration Of Justice: What Can Help?